meatball

[ meet-bawl ]

/ ˈmitˌbɔl /

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noun

Cooking. a small ball of ground meat, especially beef, often mixed with breadcrumbs, seasonings, etc., before cooking.

Slang. an awkward, clumsy, or ineffectual person.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of meatball

First recorded in 1830–40; meat + ball¹

Words nearby meatball

meat, meat and drink to one, meat and potatoes, meat ax, meataxe, meatball, Meath, meathead, meat hook, meat house, meatloaf

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use meatball in a sentence

I remember helping shape the meatballs, tucking the squishy meat into my cupped palms.
3 nourishing soup recipes to revive you|Aaron Hutcherson|January 7, 2021|Washington Post
There would always be sausage in the soup, too, but I’d count the tiny meatballs in each bowl, pick around the greens and ask for extra cheese to sprinkle on top.
3 nourishing soup recipes to revive you|Aaron Hutcherson|January 7, 2021|Washington Post
Increase the heat to high and cook until the greens soften and the meatballs are cooked through — cut into one to be sure it’s no longer pink in the center — about 3 minutes.
Hearty and robust, Italian wedding soup is a perfect marriage of meat and vegetables|Daniela Galarza|January 7, 2021|Washington Post
A fellow Vox Media colleague had raved about the chicken meatball recipe from Bon Appetit over the summer, so I decided to try it out.
The Recipes We Cooked Again and Again and Again in 2020|Eater Staff|December 30, 2020|Eater

Winslow says if your meatball or meatloaf recipe first calls for cooking down onions, consider instead working raw scallions into the ground meat for a brighter taste.
Onions, shallots, scallions and leeks are mostly interchangeable in recipes. Here’s how to use what you have.|Becky Krystal|November 23, 2020|Washington Post
The actor even had a custom-made tuxedo created so Meatball could participate in his wedding ceremony.
How the English Bulldog Lost Westminster But Conquered America|Keli Goff|February 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
When asked later in an interview with Wendy Williams how the night went, Vinny responded, “Um… you ever have sex with a meatball?”
‘Jersey Shore’ Canceled: 11 Wildest Moments (VIDEO)|Kevin Fallon|August 31, 2012|DAILY BEAST
As is customary when entering the shore house, the spicy meatball drank way too much and ended up in a bad situation.
Most Outrageous ‘Jersey Shore’ Moments|Sadie Bass|August 3, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Example: "She looked exactly like Snooki—like 4-feet tall, short little meatball, exactly like Snooki."
The Real Jersey Dictionary, Vol. 3|Jaimie Etkin|March 24, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Daniel Holzman Daniel Holzman is the Chef/Owner of The Meatball Shop in New York City.
Fresh Picks|The Daily Beast|July 30, 2010|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for meatball

meatball

/ (ˈmiːtˌbɔːl) /

noun

minced beef, shaped into a ball before cooking

US and Canadian slang a stupid or boring person

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012