balloon

• Récipient souple et gonflable, généralement en latex ou en caoutchouc, rempli d'air ou de gaz, utilisé comme jouet ou décoration ; également, en aéronautique, aérostat sans propulsion.

A flexible, inflatable bag made of materials such as latex or rubber, typically filled with air or gas and used as a toy or decoration.

1. Inflatable objectA1formal

   A flexible bag that can be inflated with air or gas, often used as a toy or decoration.

   Ballon de baudruche

   • The child was holding a red balloon at the party.
   • They decorated the room with colorful balloons.
   • The balloon floated up into the sky.

2. AircraftA2formal

   A large balloon filled with hot air or gas that can carry people or equipment through the air.

   Ballon aérostatique

   • We took a ride in a hot air balloon over the countryside.
   • The weather balloon was launched to collect atmospheric data.
   • The balloon drifted slowly across the valley.

3. Comic strip elementB1informal

   A rounded shape containing text or dialogue in a comic strip or cartoon.

   Bulles de dialogue dans une bande dessinée

   • The cartoonist drew a speech balloon above the character's head.
   • The thought balloon showed what the character was thinking.
   • Each panel had a balloon with the character's dialogue.

   Synonymesbubble

• Verbe désignant le fait de gonfler ou de se dilater rapidement, souvent en taille ou en quantité, à la manière d'un ballon qui se remplit d'air.

A verb used to indicate the act of swelling or expanding rapidly, often in size or quantity, like a balloon inflating.

1. Increase rapidlyB2informal

   To swell or expand quickly in size, amount, or importance.

   gonfler rapidement

   • The company's profits ballooned after the new product launch.
   • The crowd ballooned to over 10,000 people within an hour.
   • His debt ballooned due to high interest rates.

   Synonymesescalateexpandexplodemushroomproliferaterocketskyrocketsoarsurgeswell

   Antonymescontractdecreasedeflatediminishreduceshrink

2. Swell outwardB1informal

   To become round and tight, like a balloon filling with air.

   Se gonfler

   • The sails ballooned in the strong wind.
   • Her stomach ballooned during the pregnancy.
   • The parachute ballooned open as she jumped.

   Synonymesbillowbulgedistendexpandinflatepuff outswell

   Antonymescollapsecontractdeflateshrink