bowl
1a rather deep, round dish or basin, used chiefly for holding liquids, food, etc.
the contents of a bowl: a bowl of tomato soup.
a rounded, cuplike, hollow part: the bowl of a pipe.
a large drinking cup.
festive drinking; conviviality.
any bowl-shaped depression or formation.
an edifice with tiers of seats forming sides like those of a bowl, having the arena at the bottom; stadium.
Also called bowl game . a football game played after the regular season by teams selected by the sponsors of the game, usually as representing the best from a region of the country: the Rose Bowl.
Typography. a curved or semicircular line of a character, as of a, d, b, etc.
to give (a floor) a gentle inclination on all sides toward some area, as a stage or platform.
Origin of bowl
1Other words from bowl
- bowllike, adjective
Words that may be confused with bowl
Other definitions for bowl (2 of 2)
one of the balls, having little or no bias, used in playing ninepins or tenpins.
one of the biased or weighted balls used in lawn bowling.
bowls, (used with a singular verb) lawn bowling.
a delivery of the ball in bowling or lawn bowling.
(formerly) a rotating cylindrical part in a machine, as one to reduce friction.
to play at bowling or bowls; participate in or have a game or games of bowling.
to roll a bowl or ball.
to move along smoothly and rapidly.
Cricket. to deliver the ball to be played by the batsman.
to roll or trundle, as a ball or hoop.
to attain by bowling: He bowls a good game.She usually bowls a 120 game, but today she bowled 180.
to knock or strike, as by the ball in bowling (usually followed by over or down).
to carry or convey, as in a wheeled vehicle.
Cricket. to eliminate (a batsman) by bowling (usually followed by out): He was bowled for a duck.He was bowled out for a duck.
bowl over, to surprise greatly: We were bowled over by the news.
Origin of bowl
2Words that may be confused with bowl
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use bowl in a sentence
She claims to be bowled over by a genuine attraction to another older companion.
When my first novel, Whistling in the Dark, was declared a breakout hit and New York Times bestseller, I was utterly bowled over.
Weaver and Jo Clark were far from bowled over when they visited ReaganBook.com.
Again Jamal is bowled over by his brother's Westernized wisdom.
Generic and Superficial ‘Tyrant’ Amerisplains the Middle East | Andrew Romano | June 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWe think not - especially as William reportedly bowled a 'wild full toss' ball which went perilously close to the royal head.
Of late she hasn't had very much of the latter commodity, and she was quite bowled over.
Bella Donna | Robert HichensThe other side, headed by Montagu, went in first, and Eric caught out two and bowled several.
Eric, or Little by Little | Frederic W. FarrarHowever, Muriel in her salmon-coloured, accordion-pleated frock bowled Michael off his superior pedestal.
Sinister Street, vol. 1 | Compton Mackenzie"It was well bowled, certainly," said Dora, meeting her defeat with dignity.
The Nicest Girl in the School | Angela BrazilIf six balls are agreed to be bowled, then he must continue the six instead of four.
The Book of Sports: | William Martin
British Dictionary definitions for bowl (1 of 2)
/ (bəʊl) /
a round container open at the top, used for holding liquid, keeping fruit, serving food, etc
Also: bowlful the amount a bowl will hold
the rounded or hollow part of an object, esp of a spoon or tobacco pipe
any container shaped like a bowl, such as a sink or lavatory
mainly US a bowl-shaped building or other structure, such as a football stadium or amphitheatre
a bowl-shaped depression of the land surface: See also dust bowl
literary
a drinking cup
intoxicating drink
Origin of bowl
1British Dictionary definitions for bowl (2 of 2)
/ (bəʊl) /
a wooden ball used in the game of bowls, having flattened sides, one side usually being flatter than the other in order to make it run on a curved course
a large heavy ball with holes for gripping with the fingers and thumb, used in tenpin bowling
to roll smoothly or cause to roll smoothly, esp by throwing underarm along the ground
(intr usually foll by along) to move easily and rapidly, as in a car
cricket
to send (a ball) down the pitch from one's hand towards the batsman, keeping the arm straight while doing so
Also: bowl out to dismiss (a batsman) by delivering a ball that breaks his wicket
(intr) to play bowls or tenpin bowling
(tr) (in tenpin bowling) to score (a specified amount): he bowled 120
Origin of bowl
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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