ballooning
/bəˈluːnɪŋ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 2.67 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
noun
The mechanical kiting used by spiders, mites, caterpillars, etc. to travel through the air.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "The ballooning economy was out of control."
- "The cricketer hit a ballooning shot for six runs."
- "This major artery from the heart to the lower body, the aorta, can indeed develop aneurysms. These balloonings of the shape of the normally straight artery may cause no bother, no symptoms and no complications."
- "When he retired, he took up ballooning."
- "Like most human activities, ballooning has sponsored heroes and hucksters and a good deal in between. For every dedicated scientist patiently recording atmospheric pressure and wind speed while shivering at high altitudes, there is a carnival barker with a bevy of pretty girls willing to dangle from a basket or parachute down to earth."
Usage
Subject
Wiktionary places this term in Zoology.