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ball
1[bawl]
noun
a spherical or approximately spherical body or shape; sphere.
He rolled the piece of paper into a ball.
a round or roundish body, of various sizes and materials, either hollow or solid, for use in games, as baseball, football, tennis, or golf.
a game played with a ball, especially baseball.
The boys are out playing ball.
Baseball.a pitched ball, not swung at by the batter, that does not pass over home plate between the batter's shoulders and knees.
Military.
a solid, usually spherical projectile for a cannon, rifle, pistol, etc., as distinguished from a shell.
projectiles, especially bullets, collectively.
any part of a thing, especially of the human body, that is rounded or protuberant.
the ball of the thumb.
a round mass of food, as of chopped meat, dough, or candy.
Slang: Vulgar.Usually balls. a testicle.
Slang: Vulgar.balls,
Horticulture.a compact mass of soil covering the roots of an uprooted tree or other plant.
Literary.a planetary or celestial body, especially the earth.
Mathematics.(in a metric space) the set of points whose distance from the zero element is less than, or less than or equal to, a specified number.
verb (used with object)
to make into a ball (sometimes followed byup ).
The children were balling up snow to make a snowman.
to wind into balls.
to ball cotton.
Slang: Vulgar.to have sexual intercourse with.
verb (used without object)
to form or gather into a ball.
When the spun sugar balls, the candy has cooked sufficiently.
to play basketball.
There’s no doubt the kid can ball, but the recruiters are also aware that he’s barely passing his math and science classes.
Slang: Vulgar.to have sexual intercourse.
verb phrase
Slangto make or become utterly confused; muddle.
The records had been all balled up by inefficient file clerks.
ball
2[bawl]
noun
a large, usually lavish, formal party featuring social dancing and sometimes given for a particular purpose, as to introduce debutantes or benefit a charitable organization.
Informal.a thoroughly good time.
Have a ball on your vacation!
Ball
3[bawl]
noun
George W(ildman) 1909–1994, U.S. lawyer, investment banker, and government official.
John, died 1381, English priest: one of the leaders of Wat Tyler's peasants' revolt in 1381.
Lucille, 1911–89, U.S. actress.
ball
1/ ɔː /
noun
a spherical or nearly spherical body or mass
a ball of wool
a round or roundish body, either solid or hollow, of a size and composition suitable for any of various games: football, golf, billiards, etc
a ball propelled in a particular way in a sport
a high ball
any of various rudimentary games with a ball
to play ball
cricket a single delivery of the ball by the bowler to the batsman
baseball a single delivery of the ball by a pitcher outside certain limits and not swung at by the batter
a solid nonexplosive projectile for a firearm Compare shell
such projectiles collectively
any more or less rounded part or protuberance
the ball of the foot
slanga testicle See balls
vet science another word for bolus
horticulture the hard mass of roots and earth removed with the rest of the plant during transplanting
a very strong, fit, or forceful person
to have the chance of doing something
to maintain the progress of a project, plan, etc
informalalert; informed
informalto cooperate
to open or initiate (an action, discussion, movement, etc)
you are obliged to make the next move
verb
(tr) to make, form, wind, etc, into a ball or balls
to ball wool
(intr) to gather into a ball or balls
tabooto copulate (with)
ball
2/ ɔː /
noun
a social function for dancing, esp one that is lavish or formal
informala very enjoyable time (esp in the phrase have a ball )
Ball
3/ ɔː /
noun
John . died 1381, English priest: executed as one of the leaders of the Peasants' Revolt (1381)
Usage
Other 51Թ Forms
- baller noun
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of ball1
Origin of ball2
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of ball1
Origin of ball2
Idioms and Phrases
start the ball rolling, to put into operation; begin.
The recreation director started the ball rolling by having all the participants introduce themselves.
carry the ball, to assume the responsibility; bear the burden.
You can always count on him to carry the ball in an emergency.
play ball,
to begin or continue playing a game.
to start or continue any action.
to work together; cooperate.
union leaders suspected of playing ball with racketeers.
keep the ball rolling, to continue or give renewed vigor to an activity already under way.
When their interest lagged, he tried to keep the ball rolling.
drop the ball, to make a mistake or miss an opportunity at a critical moment.
on the ball,
alert and efficient or effective.
If you don't get on the ball, you'll be fired.
indicating intelligence or ability.
The tests show your students don't have much on the ball. The new manager has a lot on the ball.
ball the jack,
to act with speed.
to stake everything on one attempt.
run with the ball, to assume responsibility or work enthusiastically.
If management approves the concept, we'll run with the ball.
Example Sentences
"An opener faces the first ball, but we don't say they are the leader of the batting."
Yes: in short, he's playing more attacking shots and leaving the ball less.
Against Finland he accumulated 131 touches of the ball - the most of any player on the pitch - completing a 94% pass accuracy.
"I have driven the ball as good as I have for a long time, so that's a positive from this week. I was hoping to play better, but didn't."
As the clock ticked down, Bulls captain Ruan Nortje spilled the ball with space ahead of him and promptly came up lame with cramp to sum up his side's disappointing day.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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