English Dictionary
Definition of “ball”
1ball1 (bɔːl
)
Definitions
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 (sense 6)
- such projectiles collectively
- any more or less rounded part or protuberance ⇒
the ball of the foot
- slang a testicle See balls
- veterinary science another word for bolus
- horticulture the hard mass of roots and earth removed with the rest of the plant during transplanting
- See ball of muscle
- See have the ball at one's feet
- See keep the ball rolling
- See on the ball
- See play ball
- See set the ball rolling
- See the ball is in your court
verb
- (tr) to make, form, wind, etc, into a ball or balls ⇒
to ball wool
- (intr) to gather into a ball or balls
- taboo slang mainly US to copulate (with)
Word Origin
C13: from Old Norse böllr ; related to Old High German balla , Italian palla French balle
2ball2 (bɔːl)
Definitions
noun
- a social function for dancing, esp one that is lavish or formal
- informal a very enjoyable time (esp in the phrase have a ball)
Word Origin
C17: from French bal (n), from Old French baller (vb), from Late Latin ballāre to dance, from Greek ballizein
Ball (bɔːl)
Definitions
noun
- John. died 1381, English priest: executed as one of the leaders of the Peasants' Revolt (1381)
Translations
- British English:
ball
A ball is a round object used in games such as football....a golf ball.bɔːl NOUN ...a golf ball.
- Spanish:
pelota
nf
- French:
balle
nf
- German:
Ball
nm Bälle
- Chinese: 球 n
- Arabic: كُرَة n
- Portuguese: bola nf
- Russian: мяч nm
- Croatian: lopta nf
- Czech: míč nm
- Danish: bold nutr
- Dutch: bal nm
- Finnish: pallo n
- Greek: μπάλα nf
- Italian: palla nf
- Japanese: ボール n
- Korean: 공 n
- Norwegian: ball nm
- Polish: piłka nf
- Brazilian Portuguese: bola nf
- European Spanish:
pelota
nf
- Swedish: boll nutr
- Thai: ลูกบอล n
- Turkish: top n
- Vietnamese: quả bóng n
- British English:
ball
A ball is a large formal dance.We go to a New Year's ball every year.bɔːl NOUN We go to a New Year's ball every year.
- Spanish:
baile
nm
- French:
bal
nm
- German:
Ball
nm Bälle
- Chinese: 舞会 n
- Arabic: حَفْلَةٌ راقِصَة n
- Portuguese: baile nm
- Russian: бал nm
- Croatian: bal nm
- Czech: ples nm
- Danish: bal nnt
- Dutch: bal nnt
- Finnish: tanssiaiset npl
- Greek: χορός nm
- Italian: ballo nm
- Japanese: 舞踏会 n
- Korean: 무도회 n
- Norwegian: ball nnt
- Polish: bal nm
- Brazilian Portuguese: baile nm
- European Spanish:
baile
nm
- Swedish: bal nutr
- Thai: งานบอล n
- Turkish: balo n
- Vietnamese: buổi khiêu vũ n
Usage examples
Mogget was still sleeping, now curled up into a tight white ball , almost buried in the leaves.
Garth Nix, LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)California 27, Arizona State 0: The Sun Devils turned the ball over five times.
Maxim (2004)"We are ready to go forward for a ceasefire, the ball really is in the Palestinian court.
Irish Times (2002)In turn, Kelvin Tatum was forced to run and interview Karlsson as he lay injured on the track, hunched painfully into a ball.
Glasgow Herald (2001)The police found four more frozen heads and a frozen body; the lawyers had a ball.
Jim Leavesley, George Biro, THE MEDICAL MYSTERIES E-OMNIBUS (2001)
