Definition

A fluffy seed head of a dandelion that can be blown away by the wind or by people, often enjoyed by children.

Example

The children had fun blowing the blowballs into the air.

Conversation

Look at that blowball in the yard!

Oh wow, I remember blowing those as a kid.

It's so fun to watch the seeds fly away!

Yeah, I always wished for good luck when I blew them.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

The word 'blowball' is formed from 'blow' (from Old English 'blāwan', meaning to emit air) and 'ball' (from Old English 'beall', meaning a round object). The term 'blowball' refers to a round seed head of certain plants, such as dandelions, that can be blown to disperse seeds.

Memory Tip

Think of 'blowing' air to send seeds flying from a 'round object' — that's what a blowball is.

Visually Confused Words