Billows

Billows refers to a large, swelling mass, often of smoke, cloud, water, or fabric, that rises, rolls, and expands. It evokes a sense of powerful movement, often associated with turbulent forces or grandeur. The term suggests a continuous and dynamic flow, and can describe anything that appears to swell or surge upwards in a wave-like manner. It can be used both literally, to describe physical objects, and figuratively, to depict emotions or events that surge and expand. The visual impression of billowing is of something voluminous and unrestrained in its movement.

Billows meaning with examples

• The smoke from the bonfire billowed into the night sky, creating a dark, swirling mass against the stars. Each gust of wind seemed to inflate the smoke, sending it higher and wider. The air grew thick with the scent of burning wood as the billows took shape and drifted into the surrounding landscape. The spectacle was hypnotic, a dance of darkness and light against the backdrop of the inky canvas above.
• As the ship sailed through the storm, the sails billowed with the force of the wind. The canvas, stretched taut and vibrant, absorbed the gusts like sponges and were inflated to an immense proportion, providing an efficient propulsion to the vessels through the treacherous waters. The sailors strained against the raging elements, but the billows demonstrated the raw power of nature. The entire vessel seemed to breathe and move with the unpredictable, relentless wind.
• Her long, flowing dress billowed around her as she danced across the ballroom. Each twirl of her body created a new ripple in the fabric, accentuating her every graceful motion. The silk and satin fabric of her dress appeared to flutter as the billows gave form to the music's rhythm as she moved. The effect was breathtaking, making her the radiant focal point of the room.
• Anger billowed within him, threatening to consume him with its fury. His frustration, a slow burn, grew rapidly into a violent inferno. The emotion seemed to swell within his chest and he felt the heat rise, as if he were about to explode. The billows of frustration left him with a terrible sensation, like standing on the edge of a cliff, the air thin and dangerous.