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

Word Frequency

billow in British

(ˈbɪləʊ )

noun

a large sea wave

a swelling or surging mass, as of smoke or sound

a large atmospheric wave, usually in the lee of a hill

4. (plural) poetic

the sea itself

verb

to rise up, swell out, or cause to rise up or swell out

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

a large wave; great swell of water

any large swelling mass or surge, as of smoke, sound, etc.

verb intransitive

to surge, swell, or rise like or in a billow

verb transitive

to make billow or surge

SIMILAR WORDS: wave

Word origin of 'billow'

ON bylgja: see belly

Example sentences containing 'billow'

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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)