balloonist

bal·loon

B0045300 (bə-lo͞on′)n.1. a. A flexible bag designed to be inflated with hot air or with a gas, such as helium, that is lighter than the surrounding air, causing it to rise and float in the atmosphere.b. Such a bag with sufficient capacity to lift and transport a suspended gondola or other load.c. Such a bag shaped like a figure or object when inflated; an inflatable.2. A usually round or oblong inflatable rubber bag used as a toy or decoration.3. Medicine An inflatable device that is inserted into a body cavity or structure and distended with air or gas for therapeutic purposes, such as angioplasty.4. a. See speech bubble.b. See thought bubble.5. A balloon payment.v. bal·looned, bal·loon·ing, bal·loons v.intr.1. To ascend or ride in a balloon.2. To expand or swell out like a balloon. See Synonyms at bulge.3. To increase or rise quickly: expenses ballooning out of control.v.tr. To cause to expand by or as if by inflating: unforeseen expenditures that ballooned the deficit.adj. Suggestive of a balloon, as in shape: balloon curtains.

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[French ballon, from Italian dialectal ballone, augmentative of balla, ball, of Germanic origin; see bhel- in Indo-European roots.]

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bal·loon′ist n.

bal•loon•ist

(bəˈlu nɪst)

n. one who ascends in a balloon. [1775–85]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

balloonist - someone who flies a balloon skilled worker, skilled workman, trained worker - a worker who has acquired special skills

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