snowball

[ 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)

1. to throw snowballs at.
2. to cause to grow or become larger, greater, more intense, etc., at an accelerating rate:

   to snowball a small business into a great enterprise.

verb (used without object)

1. to grow or become larger, greater, more intense, etc., at an accelerating rate.

snowball

/ ˈsnəʊˌbɔːl /

noun

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

verb

1. intr to increase rapidly in size, importance, etc

   their woes have snowballed since last year

2. tr to throw snowballs at

Word History and Origins

Origin of snowball¹

1350–1400; Middle English (noun); snow, ball ¹

Example Sentences

“Once you get going,” Vetro says, “it just snowballs. Now I don’t work with ‘regular’ people at all.”

From Los Angeles Times

After agreeing to take the first package, he describes a “snowball effect”.

From BBC

But it "snowballed" and he then visited another 120 in France, followed by Belgium, Italy and Norway.

From BBC

However, as doubt surrounding her abilities snowballed, competition organisers said last Sunday that Jiang had violated competition rules in the preliminary round, by receiving help from her teacher, who was also a contestant himself.

From BBC

That future is now starting earlier than the coach planned at USC, with the Trojans desperate for any spark that might stop their disappointing season from snowballing any further.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• escalate
• heighten
• intensify
• multiply
• proliferate
• swell
• widen