snowball

Everyday

1. A ball of snow pressed together with the hands, often thrown in play. tree →
2. As a verb, to grow bigger and bigger, faster and faster, like a snowball rolled through snow. tree →

In the lessons

In winter play, children make snowballs and have snowball fights; safety rules say no stones or ice inside and do not aim at faces. In maths and science, "snowballing" describes something that grows quickly, like rumours or savings with interest. In stories, a small problem can snowball into a big one. Phrases: snowball fight, snowball effect, snowball into.

Examples

• We had a snowball fight in the park. tree →
• Sam rolled a snowball to make a snowman. tree →
• Never put stones inside a snowball. tree →
• Don't throw snowballs at people's faces or at cars. tree →
• The rumour snowballed until the whole school had heard it. tree →
• One small lie can snowball into a big problem. tree →
• The snowball melted on the warm windowsill. tree →

Note

Countable: a snowball, snowballs; verb past "snowballed". The "snowball effect" means a small thing growing bigger and faster. Safety: throw only soft snow, never icy snowballs, and stop when someone says stop. "Snowball" is written as one word.