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billow, surge

(noun) a large sea wave

balloon, inflate, billow

(verb) become inflated; “The sails ballooned”

billow, surge, heave

(verb) rise and move, as in waves or billows; “The army surged forward”

billow, wallow

(verb) rise up as if in waves; “smoke billowed up into the sky”

billow

(verb) move with great difficulty; “The soldiers billowed across the muddy riverbed”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

billow (plural billows)

A large wave, swell, surge, or undulating mass of something, such as water, smoke, fabric or sound

Verb

billow (third-person singular simple present billows, present participle billowing, simple past and past participle billowed)

To surge or roll in billows.

To swell out or bulge.

Source: Wiktionary

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Bil"low, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. bylgja billow, Dan. bölge, Sw. bölja; akin to MHG. bulge billow, bag, and to E. bulge. See Bulge.]

1. A great wave or surge of the sea or other water, caused usually by violent wind. Whom the winds waft where'er the billows roll. Cowper.

2. A great wave or flood of anything. Milton.

Bil"low, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Billowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Billowing.]

Definition: To surge; to rise and roll in waves or surges; to undulate. "The billowing snow." Prior.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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