I. ˈbi(ˌ)lō, -_lə, often -_ləw+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably from Old Norse bylgja; akin to Middle High German bulge billow, Middle Low German bülge, Old Norse belgr bag — more at belly
1.
a. : a large swelling wave of water especially in the open sea
the billows rose and fell, flashing in the sunlight
b. : a marked undulation of water
the small boat cut swiftly through the lake's quiet billows
2. : a rolling or swirling surge
billows of flame swept through the forest
: an undulating or swelling mass
billows of marching regiments wound through the valley
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
intransitive verb
1. : to rise or roll in waves or surges : surge , undulate
the restless billowing sea
the smoke from the houses thickened and spread, bellied out, billowed up — Kenneth Roberts
2. : to bulge or swell out in billows (as through the action of the wind)
billowing clouds
the flags in front of the Supreme Court building billowed out in pride — G.B.Oxnam
the girl flashed on, her pretty skirt billowing — Irwin Shaw
transitive verb
: to cause to billow
a high wind was blowing from the west, billowing the sleeves and skirts of women's dresses — Ellen Glasgow
a field of burning grass billowing thick black clouds of smoke into the sky — Donald Windham