Snowball: meaning, definitions and examples

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snowball

 

[ ˈsnoʊbɔːl ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

weather phenomenon

A snowball is a ball made of snow that is often compacted and thrown as a projectile. During winter, children and adults alike enjoy shaping snow into snowballs for snowball fights or for building snowmen. The term can also metaphorically refer to a situation that starts small and grows larger. In many cultures, snowballs symbolize fun and playfulness during the winter season.

Synonyms

snow sphere, snowball fight.

Examples of usage

  • The children had a snowball fight in the park.
  • He packed a snowball and threw it at his friend.
  • They rolled a large snowball to create a snowman.
  • The snowball rolled down the hill, gathering more snow.
Context #2 | Verb

growing situation

To snowball means to increase rapidly in size, force, or importance, similar to how a snowball grows larger as it rolls down a hill. This term is often used in contexts such as finance, where debt can snowball, becoming unmanageable over time. It can also describe how small problems or situations can escalate into larger issues if not addressed promptly.

Synonyms

compound, escalate, snowball effect.

Examples of usage

  • Her small savings began to snowball into a large investment.
  • The rumors started to snowball after the incident.
  • His simple idea snowballed into a successful business.

Translations

Translations of the word "snowball" in other languages:

🇵🇹 bola de neve

🇮🇳 बरफ का गोला

🇩🇪 Schneeball

🇮🇩 bola salju

🇺🇦 сніжка

🇵🇱 śnieżka

🇯🇵 雪玉

🇫🇷 boule de neige

🇪🇸 bola de nieve

🇹🇷 kar topu

🇰🇷 눈덩이

🇸🇦 كرة الثلج

🇨🇿 sněhová koule

🇸🇰 snehová guľa

🇨🇳 雪球

🇸🇮 snežna krogla

🇮🇸 snjókúla

🇰🇿 қар доп

🇬🇪 თოვლის ბურთი

🇦🇿 qar topu

🇲🇽 bola de nieve

Etymology

The word 'snowball' dates back to the early 19th century, combining 'snow,' which comes from the Old English 'snāw,' and 'ball,' derived from the Old English 'beall' or 'bolla,' meaning a round object. The concept of forming a ball from snow is an old winter pastime that has been enjoyed in various cultures. The transition of its use from a physical object to a metaphorical one reflects the transformative nature of language, as it captures the essence of something that grows and accumulates over time, akin to a snowball gaining mass while rolling down a slope.