balloon

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 a small bag made of very thin rubber that becomes larger and rounder when you fill it with air or gas. Balloons are brightly coloured and used as decorations or toys: to blow up / burst / pop a balloon * My balloon has burst! * A thousand balloons were released to mark the event. 2 (also hot-air balloon) a large balloon made of strong fabric that is filled with hot air or gas to make it rise in the air, usually carrying a basket for passengers IDIOMS when the balloon goes up (BrE, informal) when the trouble that you are expecting begins: We have to get out of here before the balloon goes up! moreatLEAD verb [V] 1 ~ (out / up) to suddenly swell out or get bigger: Her skirt ballooned out in the wind. * Unemployment ballooned to fourteen per cent. 2 (usually go ballooning) to travel in a HOT-AIRBALLOON as a sport