snow·ball

[snoh-bawl]
noun
1.
a ball of snow pressed or rolled together, as for throwing.
2.
any of several shrubs belonging to the genus Viburnum, of the honeysuckle family, having large clusters of white, sterile flowers.
3.
a confection of crushed ice, usually in the shape of a ball, which is flavored with fruit or other syrup and served in a paper cup.
4.
a scoop or ball of ice cream covered with shredded coconut and usually chocolate sauce.
verb (used with object)
5.
to throw snowballs at.
6.
to cause to grow or become larger, greater, more intense, etc., at an accelerating rate: to snowball a small business into a great enterprise.
00:10
Snowball is one of our favorite verbs.
So is peculate. Does it mean:
to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle.
to flee; abscond:
LEARN MORE FUN, UNUSUAL VERBS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
verb (used without object)
7.
to grow or become larger, greater, more intense, etc., at an accelerating rate.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English (noun); see snow, ball1

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To snowball
Collins
World English Dictionary
snowball (ˈsnəʊˌbɔːl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  snow pressed into a ball for throwing, as in play
2.  a drink made of advocaat and lemonade
3.  slang a mixture of heroin and cocaine
4.  a dance started by one couple who separate and choose different partners. The process continues until all present are dancing
 
—vb
5.  (intr) to increase rapidly in size, importance, etc: their woes have snowballed since last year
6.  (tr) to throw snowballs at

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

snowball
c.1400, from snow (n.) + ball (n.). The verb meaning "to make snowballs" is from 1684; sense of "to throw snowballs at" (someone) is from 1850. Meaning "to increase rapidly" is attested from 1929, though the image of a snowball increasing in size
as it rolls along had been used since at least 1613, and a noun sense of "a pyramid scheme" is attested from 1892. Snowball's chance (in hell) is first recorded 1934.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

snowball definition


  1. in.
    to grow at an increasing rate. (As a snowball rolling down a hill might increase in size.) : Offers to help with money and prayers began to snowball, and we had to get volunteers to help answer the phones.

  2. Go to snow. :
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Snowball sampling is a method typically used with unknown or rare populations.
Maybe this is nature's way of saying it's time for a snowball fight.
The researchers used snowball sampling technique to interview adoption unit
  workers.
The winter season is filled with lots of fun and outdoor activities such as
  snowman making and snowball fights.
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriHome Advisor
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
About PRIVACY POLICY Terms API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Suggest a Word Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT