English Dictionary | Thesaurus | Translator | COBUILD Grammar Patterns | Scrabble | Blog
  • English
  • This page in
    American
    Italiano
    Deutsch
    Español
    Português
    हिंदी
    简体中文
| Sign Up | Log In
 
English
Menu
English Dictionary Thesaurus Translator Grammar Scrabble Blog
  • English
  • This page in
    American
    Italiano
    Deutsch
    Español
    Português
    हिंदी
    简体中文
Sign Up Log In

Definition of 'billow'

Word Frequency

billow

(bɪloʊ )
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense billows , present participle billowing , past tense, past participle billowed
1. verb
When something made of cloth billows, it swells out and moves slowly in the wind.
The curtains billowed in the breeze. [VERB]
Her pink dress billowed out around her. [V out]
...the billowing sails. [VERB-ing]
Synonyms: surge, roll, expand, swell   More Synonyms of billow
2. verb
When smoke or cloud billows, it moves slowly upwards or across the sky.
...thick plumes of smoke billowing from factory chimneys. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Steam billowed from under the bonnet. [VERB preposition/adverb]
...billowing clouds of cigarette smoke. [VERB-ing]
Synonyms: flow, course, rush, stream   More Synonyms of billow
3. countable noun
A billow of smoke or dust is a large mass of it rising slowly into the air.
...smoke stacks belching billows of almost solid black smoke. [+ of]
Synonyms: surge, wave, flow, rush   More Synonyms of billow
More Synonyms of billow
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency

billow in British

(ˈbɪləʊ )
noun
1. 
a large sea wave
2. 
a swelling or surging mass, as of smoke or sound
3. 
a large atmospheric wave, usually in the lee of a hill
4. (plural) poetic
the sea itself
verb
5. 
to rise up, swell out, or cause to rise up or swell out
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
billowing (ˈbillowing)
  adjective, noun
Word origin of 'billow'
C16: from Old Norse bylgja; related to Swedish bōlja, Danish bölg, Middle High German bulge; see bellow, belly
Word Frequency

billow in American

(ˈbɪloʊ ; bilˈō)
noun
1. 
a large wave; great swell of water
2. 
any large swelling mass or surge, as of smoke, sound, etc.
verb intransitive
3. 
to surge, swell, or rise like or in a billow
verb transitive
4. 
to make billow or surge
SIMILAR WORDS:  wave
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin of 'billow'
ON bylgja: see belly

Example sentences containing 'billow'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
We carried on regardless, live on radio, with smoke billowing out from the woodwind. Times, Sunday Times (2016)We walked beneath white clouds billowing against a deep blue sky. Christianity Today (2000)Today billowing fabric can still help us through the summer. Times, Sunday Times (2008)They had covered heat sensors with plastic bags and wandered off when smoke began billowing out. The Sun (2011)The interior of the plane was billowing with smoke. Len Deighton BomberFirefighters rushed to the home after the owners spotted smoke billowing from under roof tiles. The Sun (2013)Firefighters found his badly burned body after neighbours spotted smoke billowing out. The Sun (2012)But a portable office attached to one wall is billowing smoke. Times, Sunday Times (2009)The force of the blast rips off its cover and sends flames and smoke billowing into the air. The Sun (2011)The memorable images of billowing clouds hid the vast numbers of people on the ground that made them happen. Times, Sunday Times (2011) Smoke was billowing from the dome. Times, Sunday Times (2006)If you are tall, billowing silky fabrics will work for you. Times, Sunday Times (2014)But a gust of wind swept the billowing fabric against what appeared to be a tell-tale bulge. The Sun (2009)She took a picture of the family's abandoned picnic chairs with smoke still billowing behind. The Sun (2015)He was at a shop delivering 100,000 of furniture when he spotted smoke billowing from the rear. The Sun (2012)A passing motorist who saw smoke billowing from a house stopped to rescue the family inside. Times, Sunday Times (2013)From this desk, some of the great classical works of modern times would emerge through billowing tobacco clouds. Times, Sunday Times (2007)He is oblivious of the smoke billowing from one of the towers behind him, white against a hazy blue sky. Times, Sunday Times (2012)A man was hanging out of an upstairs window, choking on the billowing smoke. The Sun (2010)WEARING billowing white wedding dresses and smart morning suits, thousands of happy couples crammed into vast venues to exchange vows. The Sun (2012)Banker or not, the villas provide a sumptuous holiday complete with giant four-poster beds swathed in billowing muslin. Times, Sunday Times (2007)

Trends of 'billow'

Used Rarely. billow is in the lower 50% of commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

View usage for:

Translations for 'billow'

British English: billow VERB
When something made of cloth billows, it swells out and moves slowly in the wind.
The curtains billowed in the breeze.
  • American English: billow
  • Brazilian Portuguese: redemoinhar
  • Chinese: 在风中鼓胀着飘动
  • European Spanish: ondear
  • French: onduler
  • German: sich blähen
  • Italian: gonfiarsi
  • Japanese: 膨らむ
  • Korean: 하늘거리다
  • European Portuguese: ondular
  • Spanish: ondear

Translate your text for free

Nearby words of 'billow'

  • Billiton
  • billman
  • billon
  • billow
  • billowy
  • billposter
  • billy

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'B'

Source

Definition of billow from the Collins English Dictionary

The present simple tense

Typical forms of this tense are as in: I know her. He know s her. The present simple tense of do is used as the supporting auxiliary when you want to: ask a question, Do I know you? Does sh...
Read more about 'The present simple tense'
Word of the day:
puffin
A puffin is a black and white seabird with a large, brightly-coloured beak .
See full definition
Apr 19, 2018
Fed up with the great British weather? Here’s how to afford that dream summer escape
From planning early to knowing where to look, these top tips will help you fulfil your summer holiday desires
Read more
The etymology behind 4 eggs-ellent Springtime words
We’ve explored the diverse etymology of 4 eggs-ellent words associated with spring.
Read more
Up Lit, Alexa Laugh & Meet Me at McDonald’s Hair: March’s Words In The News
Catch up on the latest words in the news this March with Robert Groves.
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more
Scrabble score for 'billow': 11
Latest Word Submissions
Barrecore Apr 18, 2018
wido Apr 18, 2018
centimorgan Apr 17, 2018
gender expansive Apr 16, 2018
Carthritis Apr 15, 2018
Submit View More
Browse the English Dictionary
  • #
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z
View all dictionaries...
  • View more
  • API
  • B2B Partnerships
  • Advertising
  • Word Banks
  • Collins COBUILD
  • Collins ELT
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact us
  • Languages
  • English
  • Thesaurus
  • Grammar
  • French
  • German
  • Spanish
  • Italian
  • Chinese
  • Portuguese
  • Hindi
  • Word Lists
  • Word of the Year
  • Scrabble
  • COBUILD Anniversary
© Collins 2018