Definition of billow
1 : wave; especially : a great wave or surge of water the rolling billows of the sea
2 : a rolling mass (as of flame or smoke) that resembles a high wave Billows of smoke poured out of the building. billows of fog
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Examples of billow in a Sentence
Billows of smoke poured out of the burning building.
the rolling billows of the sea
Origin and Etymology of billow
Old Norse bylgja; akin to Old High German balg bag — more at belly
First Known Use: 1552
billow
Definition of billow
intransitive verb
1 : to rise or roll in waves or surges the billowing sea
2 : to bulge or swell out (as through action of the wind) billowing clouds … the flags … billowed out in pride … — G. B. Oxnam
transitive verb
: to cause to billow a field of burning grass billowing thick black clouds of smoke into the sky — Donald Windham
Examples of billow in a Sentence
the curtains in the open windows billowed in the summer wind
Origin and Etymology of billow
see 1billow
First Known Use: 1592
BILLOW Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of billow for English Language Learners
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: a moving cloud or mass of smoke, steam, etc.
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: a large wave
billow
Definition of billow for English Language Learners
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: to move as a large cloud or mass
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: to be pushed outward by air
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: to rise or roll in waves
BILLOW Defined for Kids
Definition of billow for Students
1 : a large wave … the billows rose and fell unbroken. — Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island
2 : a moving cloud or mass (as of smoke or flame)
Definition of billow for Students
billowed
;billowing
1 : to rise or roll in large waves the billowing ocean
2 : to move as a large cloud or mass Smoke billowed from the chimney.
3 : to bulge or swell out Sails billowed in the breeze.
Learn More about billow
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for billow Spanish Central: Translation of billow Nglish: Translation of billow for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of billow for Arabic speakers
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