balloonist


Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Financial, Idioms, Encyclopedia.

bal·loon

 (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.

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

bal·loon′ist n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

bal•loon•ist

(bəˈlu nɪst)

n.
one who ascends in a balloon.
[1775–85]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.balloonist - someone who flies a balloonballoonist - someone who flies a balloon    
skilled worker, skilled workman, trained worker - a worker who has acquired special skills
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations

balloonist

[bəˈluːnɪst] Nascensionista mf, aeronauta mf
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

balloonist

[bəˈluːnɪst] naéronaute mf
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

balloonist

nBallonfahrer(in) m(f)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

balloonist

[bəˈluːnɪst] naeronauta m/f
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
References in classic literature ?
I was a balloonist for many years, and once my balloon carried me to the Land of Oz, and once to the Vegetable Kingdom.
Directly below him the balloonist would have seen the network of streets far and wide, houses, churches, squares, crescents, gardens--already derelict--spread out like a huge map, and in the southward BLOTTED.
"After a time," continued Oz, "I tired of that, and became a balloonist."
Though a new Texas law allows hunters to shoot feral hogs and coyotes from hot air balloons, it's not easy to find a balloonist offering the activity.
1740: Joseph-Michel Montgolfier, pioneer balloonist, was born in Annonay, France.
The Russian balloonist beat the previous record of 13-1/2 days set in 2002 by the late Steve Fossett.
But I will never, I fear, be an adventurous enthusiastic balloonist. Life is risky enough as it is.
Balloonist and aviation captain Abdulaziz Nasser Al-Mansouri told Bahrain News Agency (BNA) the participation of "The King of Bahrain" Balloon" will include several destinations including the USA, China and Japan to showcase the Kingdom's accomplishments under the leadership and wise policy of His Majesty the King and the country's advancement, progress and prosperity and excellence in all fields.
THE only way was Up for a bonkers balloonist yesterday after his bid to cross the Atlantic ended in a bit of a downer.
A BALLOONIST who was trying to cross the Atlantic using hundreds of helium-filled balloons has landed short of his goal in Newfoundland.
(D) He was the first cluster balloonist to fly across the Indian Ocean.
Varney, a commercial hot air balloonist and owner of R.