noun / verb
billow
BIL-oh/ˈbɪləʊ/
A large rolling swell, or to rise and move in such swells.
The curtain billows inward as wind enters through the open window.
Etymology
The starting image is a great sea wave. The verb turns that image into movement: rising or rolling in waves, or swelling outward in a similar way.
In context
the smoke which has no smell or taste continues to billow climbing upward and reaches me chest high
More examples
- Smoke billows from the factory chimney.
- A great billow lifts the ship's bow.
- The curtains billowed through the open window.
Forms
billow · billows · billowed · billowing