ballooning

• IPA^(key): /bəˈluːnɪŋ/

ballooning (not comparable)

1. Growing rapidly as a balloon.

   The ballooning economy was out of control.

2. Rising high in the air.

   The cricketer hit a ballooning shot for six runs.

ballooning (countable and uncountable, plural balloonings)

1. The act of something that swells or expands.
   • 2013, Margaret McCartney, The Patient Paradox, page 95:

     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.

2. The sport or hobby of flying in a balloon.
   • 2013 June 7, David Simpson, “Fantasy of navigation”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 36:

     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.

   When he retired, he took up ballooning.

3. The mechanical kiting used by spiders, mites, caterpillars, etc. to travel through the air.

ballooning

1. present participle of balloon