Bal*loon" (?), n. [F. ballon, aug. of balle ball: cf. It. ballone. See 1st Ball, n., and cf. Pallone.]

1. A bag made of silk or other light material, and filled with hydrogen gas or heated air, so as to rise and float in the atmosphere; especially, one with a car attached for aërial navigation.

"2. (Arch.) A ball or globe on the top of a pillar, church, etc., as at St. Pauls, in London. [R.]"

3. (Chem.) A round vessel, usually with a short neck, to hold or receive whatever is distilled; a glass vessel of a spherical form.

4. (Pyrotechnics) A bomb or shell. [Obs.]

5. A game played with a large inflated ball. [Obs.]

6. (Engraving) The outline inclosing words represented as coming from the mouth of a pictured figure.

Air balloon, a balloon for aërial navigation. -- Balloon frame (Carp.), a house frame constructed altogether of small timber. -- Balloon net, a variety of woven lace in which the weft threads are twisted in a peculiar manner around the warp.

Bal*loon" , v. i.

1. To go up or voyage in a balloon.

2. To expand, or puff out, like a balloon.

Bal*loon" , v. t. To take up in, or as if in, a balloon.

-- Webster's unabridged 1913