balloon (EN)

noun, verb

noun “balloon”

1. a small inflatable bag filled with air or gas, used as a toy or decoration
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   The children played with colorful balloons at the birthday party.
2. a large bag filled with gas or hot air, that can carry people or equipment through the air
   They enjoyed a hot air balloon ride over the countryside.
3. (medicine) a medical device inserted into the body and inflated for treatment
   In angioplasty, a balloon is used to open blocked blood vessels.
4. a speech bubble in comics or cartoons
   The character's words appeared inside a balloon in the comic strip.
5. a rounded glass used for serving brandy or other spirits
   He sipped his cognac from a balloon by the fireplace.
6. (finance) a large final payment due at the end of a loan term
   They planned carefully to afford the balloon at the end of their mortgage.
7. (architecture) a ball or globe on top of a pillar or building
   The building was crowned with a decorative balloon.
8. (chemistry) a round-bottomed flask used in distillation
   The chemist heated the solution in a balloon during the experiment.

verb “balloon”

1. to increase or expand rapidly
   Prices ballooned after the new tax was introduced.
2. to travel in a balloon
   They ballooned over the city during the festival.
3. to inflate or cause to inflate like a balloon
   The wind ballooned the curtains as the window was open.
4. (aviation) to rise suddenly and then descend
   The small plane ballooned unexpectedly due to turbulence.
5. (sports) to hit or kick a ball high into the air
   The striker ballooned the ball over the crossbar.