golf ball

American  

noun

1. a small, white ball with a tough cover and a resilient core of rubber, used in playing golf.

2. a ball-shaped printing element on certain electric typewriters.

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golf ball British  

noun

1. a small resilient, usually white, ball of either two-piece or three-piece construction, the former consisting of a solid inner core with a thick covering of toughened material, the latter consisting of a liquid centre, rubber-wound core, and a thin layer of balata

2. (in some electric typewriters) a small detachable metal sphere, around the surface of which type characters are arranged

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Etymology

Origin of golf ball

First recorded in 1535–45

Example Sentences

Petroleum is used to make thousands of products, from golf balls to children’s toys and shampoo.

From The Wall Street Journal

The size of a golf ball, skittering past me on the ground, coming from behind.

From Literature

Any time she was mentioned I suddenly felt like I was trying to swallow a golf ball.

From Literature

After Porkchop swam off, several aquarium staffers gathered trash from the river, including roughly 20 golf balls, a Volkswagen car emblem, cut-up credit card, teal plastic line, a bottle cap.

From Los Angeles Times

Sunday's forecast features gusts around 35 mph after wobbling golf balls at 18 had Bhatia hoping for a moment for a delay to Sunday.

From Barron's