noun
blimp
BLIHMP
Blimp (noun) means an airship kept in shape by the pressure of the gas inside it, rather than a rigid frame. Example: “The blimp floated slowly over the stadium during the game.”
noun
1
An airship kept in shape by the pressure of the gas inside it, rather than a rigid frame.
"The blimp floated slowly over the stadium during the game."
2
Informal, sometimes unkind, term for an overweight person.
"He joked that he'd turned into a blimp after the holidays."
How to use blimp
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA soft-bodied airship, or informally, a very overweight person.
Common mistake
The "person" sense can be considered rude — use with care.
Common pairings
goodyear blimp
float like a blimp
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Word forms
- Plural
- blimps
- Third person singular
- blimps
- Past tense
- blimped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ floated slowly over the stadium during the game.
Etymology
Most historians think it's onomatopoeic, imitating the sound of thumping the airship's fabric, first recorded in England around 1916.
Class of 1916
blimp joined the language around 1916.
See the full Class of 1916 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for blimp
See all rhymes for blimp →Frequently asked questions
What does “blimp” mean?
The word “blimp” means an airship kept in shape by the pressure of the gas inside it, rather than a rigid frame. In plain terms, a soft-bodied airship, or informally, a very overweight person.
How do you pronounce “blimp”?
“Blimp” is pronounced BLIHMP (/ˈblɪmp/ in IPA).
How do you use “blimp” in a sentence?
Here is “blimp” used in a sentence: “The blimp floated slowly over the stadium during the game.”
What is another word for “blimp”?
Words with a similar meaning to “blimp” include barrage balloon, Gossage, nonrigid, blimp out and blimp up.
What part of speech is “blimp”?
“Blimp” is a noun.
Where does the word “blimp” come from?
The word “blimp” dates back to around 1916. Most historians think it's onomatopoeic, imitating the sound of thumping the airship's fabric, first recorded in England around 1916.
How many meanings does “blimp” have?
“Blimp” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an airship kept in shape by the pressure of the gas inside it, rather than a rigid frame.
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