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Definition of balloon
1 : a nonporous bag of light material that can be inflated especially with air or gas: such asa : a bag that is filled with heated air or a gas lighter than air so as to rise and float in the atmosphere and that usually carries a suspended load (such as a gondola with passengers)b : an inflatable bag (as of rubber or plastic) usually used as a toy or for decoration
2 : the outline enclosing words spoken or thought by a figure especially in a cartoon
go over like a lead balloon
or Britishgo down like a lead balloon
informalinformal
: to fail completely to impress or amuse other people Not surprisingly, his overt religiosity has proved a mixed blessing. While probably a winner on the stump, it has gone over like a lead balloon with journalists, liberals, and even many Jewish organizations. — Michelle Cottle But the last time I saw it on stage, in Ned Sherrin's 1996 revival, the dialogue bored me rigid and the whole thing … went down like a lead balloon. — David Nice
From the M-W Editors
Examples of balloon in a Sentence
I blew up a balloon but then it burst.
brightly colored balloons and other party decorations
Recent Examples of balloon from the Web
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Ahhh! Orange County's 10WAVY reports that17 people were in the hot air balloon's basket when some unexpected wind swept them off course from their landing and dumped them in the water.
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People could also take tours of the historic Hays House, check out the water-balloon toss, costume contest, Uncle Sam Says and watermelon eating competition, all at Shamrock Park, plus the annual bicycle rodeo at Bel Air Elementary School.
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WHAT: South Pasadena kicks off Independence Day with a pancake breakfast at the fire station at 7:00 a.m. (Tickets are $8/person, kids under 6 eat free), followed by the 36th annual balloon parade.
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Candy art, balloon artists, gourmet food trucks and more.
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The only one a real bird couldn’t easily generate: an egg shaped like a hot air balloon.
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Best of all, there will be a Kids' Zone packed with activities, including junior knight training from a Medieval Times knight, water balloon tossing, spin art coloring, face painting and dance performances.
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The membranes are pumped with fluid like a balloon being inflated, and finally surrounded by a shell.
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The roughly 24-hour waiting period features activities, including water balloon tosses and scavenger hunts, as well as free meals – a taste of what's to come.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'balloon'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of balloon
French ballon large football, balloon, from Italian dialect ballone large football, augmentative of balla ball, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German balla ball — more at ball
balloon
Definition of balloon
1 : relating to, resembling, or suggesting a balloon a balloon sleeve
2 US : having or being a final installment that is much larger than preceding ones in a term or installment note a balloon note a balloon mortgage Got a commercial mortgage coming due? If the loan requires a balloon payment (as many such mortgages do), you may have a hard time refinancing … — INC
First Known Use of balloon
1784
Other Economics Terms
balloon
Definition of balloon
Examples of balloon in a Sentence
Their credit card debt ballooned to more than $5,000.
the ballooning costs of education
Recent Examples of balloon from the Web
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BMW buyers can expect additional packages and equipment to quickly balloon the bottom line.
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The hope was palpable, and ballooned further after Devin Mann hit a two-out single through the left side.
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Counterterrorism and counterintelligence went from career dead ends to the sections the most ambitious agents applied to work in, and the budgets ballooned.
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Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, the Senate’s appropriations chairman, took responsibility for allowing HB 7069 to balloon so much.
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As a tight end at Ashland University, Shaheen ballooned from 210 pounds to 280 during his three years in the program.
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But the size of the fines levied has ballooned in recent decades, as lawmakers came to use them as a regular source of revenue for government programs.
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While CBP searches the devices of far less than 1 percent of travelers crossing the U.S. border, the number of searches has ballooned in the last two years.
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Also, commission officials underestimated the cost of reviewing the applications, which ballooned from an initial estimate of $545,000 to $2.4 million, as The Washington Post reported last year.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'balloon'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of balloon
1784
BALLOON Defined for English Language Learners
balloon
playDefinition of balloon for English Language Learners
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: a thin usually rubber bag that becomes larger when it is filled with air or gas
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: a picture or space in a cartoon that contains words that are spoken or thought by a character
balloon
Definition of balloon for English Language Learners
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: to become bigger quickly
BALLOON Defined for Kids
Definition of balloon for Students
1 : a bag that rises and floats above the ground when filled with heated air or with a gas that is lighter than air
2 : a toy or decoration consisting of a rubber bag that can be blown up with air or gas
3 : an outline containing words spoken or thought by a character (as in a cartoon)
Definition of balloon for Students
ballooned
;ballooning
: to swell or puff out
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of balloon
: a nonporous bag of tough light material that can be inflated (as in a bodily cavity) with air or gas gastroesophageal tamponade by introduction of a balloon into the stomach
balloon
Medical Definition of balloon
: to inflate or distend like a balloon
intransitive verb
: to swell or puff out
Law Dictionary
balloon
Legal Definition of balloon
: being or having a final installment that is much larger than preceding ones in an installment or term loan a balloon payment
Additional Notes on balloon
In contrast to an amortized loan, a balloon loan is generally repaid in periodic payments of interest and a large, lump sum payment of principal at the end of the term.
Learn More about balloon
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See words that rhyme with balloon Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for balloon Spanish Central: Translation of balloon Nglish: Translation of balloon for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of balloon for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about balloon
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