Smoke billows from burning house.

Meaning: This sentence describes smoke flowing in large, rolling masses from a burning house.

Choice of Words: Smoke is a visible suspension of carbon and other particles in the air, typically emitted from a fire. Billows means to flow or move in large, rolling masses. From means away from a particular place or person. Burning means on fire or being consumed by fire. House is a building in which people live. Smoke is flowing in large, rolling masses from a burning house.

Alternative Expressions

Thick, black smoke pours out of the house.

Meaning: This means that the fire in the house is very bad and there is a lot of smoke coming out.

Choice of Words: Thick means something that is not thin or easy to see through. Black means a very dark color, like the night sky. Pours means to flow out in a steady stream. Out means from the inside to the outside. When you put it all together, "Thick, black smoke pours out of the house" means that a lot of dark smoke is coming out of the house.

The house is engulfed in flames and smoke billows into the sky.

Meaning: This means that the fire in the house is very big and the smoke is going very high.

Choice of Words: Engulfed means to be completely surrounded by something. Flames are the burning part of a fire. Billows means to flow or rise in large, rolling clouds. Into means to move from the outside to the inside. Sky is the big blue thing above us. When you put it all together, "The house is engulfed in flames and smoke billows into the sky" means that the house is completely on fire and the smoke is rising high into the air.

Related Expressions