SNOWBALL Meaning and
Definition
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A snowball refers to both a meteorological phenomenon and an object made of compressed snow. In meteorology, a snowball is a rounded mass of snow formed when small particles of ice precipitate and stick together due to low temperatures and atmospheric moisture. Snowballs are typically composed of compacted crystals of snowflakes and can vary in size from tiny, pea-sized spheres to larger, softball-sized ones. They can be formed naturally during snowfall or by hand through the process of scooping up snow and compressing it into a ball. Snowballs are often associated with winter and can be used for recreational activities such as snowball fights or building snowmen.
In a broader sense, a snowball can also refer to a situation that gains momentum and grows rapidly. This usage originates from the image of a snowball rolling down a snowy slope, which gradually accumulates more snow and increases in size. In this context, a snowball effect implies exponential growth or the compounding of a consequence. It often describes a chain reaction or the intensification of a trend, wherein an initial action or event creates a series of subsequent actions or events, resulting in a rapid amplification. This concept is frequently used in various contexts, including economics, finance, social phenomena, and even personal relationships, to emphasize the idea of cumulative and self-reinforcing progress or consequences.
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• A round mass of compressed snow.
• To throw snowballs; to pelt with snowballs.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for SNOWBALL *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for SNOWBALL
Etymology of SNOWBALL
The word "snowball" is formed by combining the roots "snow" and "ball". Here is a breakdown of their etymologies:
1. Snow: The word "snow" comes from Old English "snāw", which is believed to have originated from the Proto-Germanic word "*snaiwaz". This Proto-Germanic term has Indo-European roots and is connected to Sanskrit "snihyati" and Old Irish "snigid", both meaning "it snows".
2. Ball: The word "ball" has a more complex etymology. It stems from Old English "beall", which was likely derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*balluz" or "*ballō". These Proto-Germanic terms can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*bhel-" meaning "to inflate or swell".
Idioms with the word SNOWBALL
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snowball effect
The idiom "snowball effect" refers to a situation where something starts small or insignificant but quickly grows in magnitude or significance as it progresses. It suggests that the initial action or event sets off a chain reaction, with each subsequent step or occurrence becoming more significant and impactful than the previous one. Similar to a snowball gathering momentum and size as it rolls down a slope, the snowball effect implies exponential growth or amplification of consequences or outcomes.
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a snowball effect
A snowball effect refers to a situation where an action or event triggers a series of additional actions or events, each of which intensifies or amplifies the initial action or event, resulting in a growing or escalating impact. The term originates from the notion of a snowball rolling down a hill, gradually accumulating more snow and increasing in size and momentum as it progresses.
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snowball into sth
The idiom "snowball into something" means that a small issue or situation gradually and rapidly becomes larger or more serious over time due to compounding effects or multiplying factors. It often implies that the development or consequences of the initial problem start to grow and escalate beyond control.
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not have a snowball's chance in hell, at not have a cat in hell's chance
To have no chance at all; to have little to no possibility of success.
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not have a snowball's chance in hell and not a hope in hell
The idiom "not have a snowball's chance in hell and not a hope in hell" means that someone or something has absolutely no chance of succeeding or achieving their goal in a given situation. It implies that the likelihood of success is so low that it is virtually impossible.
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snowball's chance in hell, a
An expression used to indicate that something has little to no chance of happening or being successful.
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have a snowball's chance in hell
This idiom is used to describe a situation in which someone or something has little to no chance of succeeding or achieving a certain outcome. It implies that the likelihood of success is as improbable as a snowball surviving in the fiery depths of hell.
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not have a snowball's chance in hell
The idiom "not have a snowball's chance in hell" is used to describe a situation in which someone or something has absolutely no chance of succeeding or achieving their goal. It implies that the odds are so heavily stacked against them that it would be nearly impossible for them to be successful.
Similar spelling words for SNOWBALL
Conjugate verb Snowball
CONDITIONAL
I
would snowball
you
would snowball
he/she/it
would snowball
we
would snowball
they
would snowball
CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS
I
would be snowballing
you
would be snowballing
he/she/it
would be snowballing
we
would be snowballing
they
would be snowballing
CONDITIONAL PERFECT
I
would have snowball
you
would have snowball
he/she/it
would have snowball
we
would have snowball
they
would have snowball
CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
would have been snowballing
you
would have been snowballing
he/she/it
would have been snowballing
we
would have been snowballing
they
would have been snowballing
FUTURE
I
will snowball
you
will snowball
he/she/it
will snowball
we
will snowball
they
will snowball
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
I
will be snowballing
you
will be snowballing
he/she/it
will be snowballing
we
will be snowballing
they
will be snowballing
FUTURE PERFECT
I
will have snowballed
you
will have snowballed
he/she/it
will have snowballed
we
will have snowballed
they
will have snowballed
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
will have been snowballing
you
will have been snowballing
he/she/it
will have been snowballing
we
will have been snowballing
they
will have been snowballing
IMPERATIVE
you
snowball
we
let´s snowball
to snowball
PAST
I
snowballed
you
snowballed
he/she/it
snowballed
we
snowballed
they
snowballed
PAST CONTINUOUS
I
was snowballing
you
were snowballing
he/she/it
was snowballing
we
were snowballing
they
were snowballing
PAST PARTICIPLE
snowballed
PAST PERFECT
I
had snowballed
you
had snowballed
he/she/it
had snowballed
we
had snowballed
they
had snowballed
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
had been snowballing
you
had been snowballing
he/she/it
had been snowballing
we
had been snowballing
they
had been snowballing
PRESENT
I
snowball
you
snowball
he/she/it
snowballs
we
snowball
they
snowball
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
I
am snowballing
you
are snowballing
he/she/it
is snowballing
we
are snowballing
they
are snowballing
PRESENT PARTICIPLE
snowballing
PRESENT PERFECT
I
have snowballed
you
have snowballed
he/she/it
has snowballed
we
have snowballed
they
have snowballed
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
have been snowballing
you
have been snowballing
he/she/it
has been snowballing
we
have been snowballing
they
have been snowballing
I
would have snowballed
we
would have snowballed
you
would have snowballed
he/she/it
would have snowballed
they
would have snowballed
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