billow JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU
/ˈbɪloʊ/ · bil·ow
noun
- A large wave, swell, or surge of something, such as water, smoke, or sound. The stormy sea produced massive billows that crashed against the shore.
- A swell or bulge in a fabric, such as a sail or a curtain. The billow in the sail made it difficult to steer the boat.
verb
- To surge or roll in billows. The crowd billowed forward, eager to get a glimpse of the celebrity.
- To swell out or bulge, especially in a wavelike motion. The fabric billowed out as the wind caught it.
Did you know? The word 'billow' has been used in literature to describe the movement of crowds, such as in Charles Dickens' novel 'Oliver Twist', where the mob 'billowed' forward in a surge of excitement.