Meaning of balloon In English

• 0 a small, very thin rubber bag that you blow air into or fill with a light gas until it is round in shape, used for decoration at parties or as a children's toy:

  • We tied balloons and streamers to the ceiling ready for the party.

  • People first flew in a balloon in 1783.

• 1 to get bigger and rounder:

  • I ballooned when I was pregnant with my second baby.

  • The rumours soon ballooned into a full-blown scandal.

• 2 a small, thin, rubber bag that you can fill with air or another gas until it is round in shape, often used for decoration at parties or as a child’s toy

• 3 to become larger, esp. quickly:

  • The rumors soon ballooned into (= quickly became) a full-grown scandal.

• 4 a type of loan that is paid back in regular small payments with a final larger payment:

  • What we're seeing are interest-only, balloon mortgages with no money down.

  • Only select a balloon over an adjustable rate mortgage if you are sure that you will be able to meet the final payment.

• 5 a balloon payment :

  • Some borrowers may not be informed that balloon payments lurk ahead.

• 6 to quickly increase in size or importance:

  • The decline in sales to America caused the goods trade deficit to balloon to a record £4 billion.