ball

¹

[bawl]

noun

1. a spherical or approximately spherical body or shape; sphere.

   He rolled the piece of paper into a ball.

2. a round or roundish body, of various sizes and materials, either hollow or solid, for use in games, as baseball, football, tennis, or golf.

3. a game played with a ball, especially baseball.

   The boys are out playing ball.

4. Baseball.,  a pitched ball, not swung at by the batter, that does not pass over home plate between the batter's shoulders and knees.

5. Military.

   1. a solid, usually spherical projectile for a cannon, rifle, pistol, etc., as distinguished from a shell.

   2. projectiles, especially bullets, collectively.

6. any part of a thing, especially of the human body, that is rounded or protuberant.

   the ball of the thumb.

7. a round mass of food, as of chopped meat, dough, or candy.

8. Slang: Vulgar.,  Usually balls. a testicle.

9. Slang: Vulgar.,  balls,

   1. boldness; courage; brashness.

      She had the balls to ignore her critics and stand up for what was right.

   2. nonsense (often used as an interjection).

10. bolus.

11. Horticulture.,  a compact mass of soil covering the roots of an uprooted tree or other plant.

12. Literary.,  a planetary or celestial body, especially the earth.

13. 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)

1. to make into a ball (sometimes followed byup ).

   The children were balling up snow to make a snowman.

2. to wind into balls.

   to ball cotton.

3. Slang: Vulgar.,  to have sexual intercourse with.

verb (used without object)

1. to form or gather into a ball.

   When the spun sugar balls, the candy has cooked sufficiently.

2. 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.

3. Slang: Vulgar.,  to have sexual intercourse.

verb phrase

1. ball up,  to make or become utterly confused; muddle.

   The records had been all balled up by inefficient file clerks.

ball

²

[bawl]

noun

1. 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.

2. Informal.,  a thoroughly good time.

   Have a ball on your vacation!

Ball

³

[bawl]

noun

1. George W(ildman) 1909–1994, U.S. lawyer, investment banker, and government official.

2. John, died 1381, English priest: one of the leaders of Wat Tyler's peasants' revolt in 1381.

3. Lucille, 1911–89, U.S. actress.

ball

¹

/ bɔːl /

noun

1. a spherical or nearly spherical body or mass

   a ball of wool

2. a round or roundish body, either solid or hollow, of a size and composition suitable for any of various games: football, golf, billiards, etc

3. a ball propelled in a particular way in a sport

   a high ball

4. any of various rudimentary games with a ball

   to play ball

5. cricket a single delivery of the ball by the bowler to the batsman

6. baseball a single delivery of the ball by a pitcher outside certain limits and not swung at by the batter

7. 1. a solid nonexplosive projectile for a firearm Compare shell

   2. such projectiles collectively

8. any more or less rounded part or protuberance

   the ball of the foot

9. slang,  a testicle See balls

10. vet science another word for bolus

11. horticulture the hard mass of roots and earth removed with the rest of the plant during transplanting

12. a very strong, fit, or forceful person

13. to have the chance of doing something

14. to maintain the progress of a project, plan, etc

15. informal,  alert; informed

16. informal,  to cooperate

17. to open or initiate (an action, discussion, movement, etc)

18. you are obliged to make the next move

verb

1. (tr) to make, form, wind, etc, into a ball or balls

   to ball wool

2. (intr) to gather into a ball or balls

3. taboo,  to copulate (with)

ball

²

/ bɔːl /

noun

1. a social function for dancing, esp one that is lavish or formal

2. informal,  a very enjoyable time (esp in the phrase have a ball )

Ball

³

/ bɔːl /

noun

1. John . died 1381, English priest: executed as one of the leaders of the Peasants' Revolt (1381)

Usage

Sense 9 of this word was formerly considered to be taboo, and it was labelled as such in previous editions of Collins English Dictionary . However, it has now become acceptable in speech, although some older or more conservative people may object to its use

Other Word Forms

• baller noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ball¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English bal, balle, probably from Old English beall (unattested), from Germanic ballaz (unattested); compare Old Norse bǫllr, Old High German bal, ballo, balla, German Ball, Dutch bal; perhaps akin to Latin follis “leather bag, bellows”; ballocks

Origin of ball²

First recorded in 1600–10; from French bal, noun derivative of baler (now baller ) “to dance,” from Late Latin ballāre, from Greek (Magna Graecia) ballízein “to dance”

Word History and Origins

Origin of ball¹

C13: from Old Norse böllr ; related to Old High German balla , Italian palla French balle

Origin of ball²

C17: from French bal (n), from Old French baller (vb), from Late Latin ballāre to dance, from Greek ballizein

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. start the ball rolling, to put into operation; begin.

   The recreation director started the ball rolling by having all the participants introduce themselves.

2. carry the ball, to assume the responsibility; bear the burden.

   You can always count on him to carry the ball in an emergency.

3. play ball,

   1. to begin or continue playing a game.

   2. to start or continue any action.

   3. to work together; cooperate.

      union leaders suspected of playing ball with racketeers.

4. 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.

5. drop the ball, to make a mistake or miss an opportunity at a critical moment.

6. on the ball,

   1. alert and efficient or effective.

      If you don't get on the ball, you'll be fired.

   2. 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.

7. ball the jack,

   1. to act with speed.

   2. to stake everything on one attempt.

8. run with the ball, to assume responsibility or work enthusiastically.

   If management approves the concept, we'll run with the ball.

More idioms and phrases containing ball

• behind the eight ball
• break one's balls
• by the balls
• carry the ball
• crystal ball
• drop the ball
• eyeball to eyeball
• get the ball rolling
• have a ball
• have one's eye on the ball
• have someone by the balls
• on the ball
• play ball
• put in mothballs
• snowball's chance in hell
• that's how the ball bounces
• whole ball of wax

Example Sentences

The rushing attack found a rhythm, with seven rushes of 15-plus yards in the first half alone, while Maiava moved the ball with ease through the air.

From Los Angeles Times

For a long time, hoofing the ball upfield was something associated with teams lower down the leagues.

From BBC

He hits the ball hard, when he hits it.

From Los Angeles Times

But instead of navigating society balls and dowries, Pickett's modern Emma is poking her nose into her friends' online dating profiles, having returned home after failing her exams at Oxford University.

From BBC

In theory, it gets him onto the ball more often and allows him to dictate games.

From BBC