n (1) 气球 (brightly-coloured rubber bag that can be blown up as a child's toy or a decoration for parties)[C]：The child's～floated into the air. 孩子的气球飘上了天。They decorated the dance-hall with～s. 他们在舞厅里挂上气球做装饰。

(2) 热气球，飞艇 (large bag made of light material and filled with heated air or gas to make it rise in the air， often carrying a basket， etc， for passengers)(=hot-air balloon) [C]：The weather～carried scientific instruments.那气象气球携带有科学仪器。The～was invented before the aeroplane. 热气球的发明先于飞机。

when the balloon goes up 当要出事时 (infml)：I don't want to be around when the～goes up. 要有麻烦时，我不想在跟前。

vi (1) 膨胀如气球 (swell out like a balloon being blown up) [I， I+adv(out/up)]：His coat/Her skirt～ed in the wind.他的上衣/她的裙子被风吹得鼓了起来。Her cheeks～ed (out). 她的面颊鼓了起来。His enormous body had～ed even more with the years. 他庞大的身躯一年年地鼓涨得更大了。

(2) 乘气球飞行 (travel in a balloon) [I]：go～ing at weekend周末去乘气球飞行;

(3) 飞越 (travel softly through the air in a high curve) [I]：The ball～ed over his head， and he couldn't catch it.球飞过他的头顶， 他抓不着。

→ bal′looning n 驾气球飞行;bal′loonist n 气球驾驶人