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object ball

American  

noun

Billiards, Pool.
  1. the first ball struck by the cue ball in making a carom.

  2. a ball to be struck by the cue ball; any ball except the cue ball.


object ball British  

noun

  1. billiards snooker any ball except the cue ball, esp one which the striker aims to hit with the cue ball

"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

Etymology

Origin of object ball

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Critics say it causes more poor contacts, leading to 'kicks' when the cue ball hits the object ball, often resulting in players running out of position or missing pots.

From BBC Apr. 27, 2026

The spectacular three-cushion game is the toughest: the cue ball, to score a point, must touch the cushions at least three times before hitting the second object ball.

From Time Magazine Archive

De Oro made a run of four that included a billiard in which his cue ball touched not the minimum of three cushions before striking the object ball, but five.

From Time Magazine Archive

In order to play the half-ball stroke, it is necessary that the player should aim at the point E, the extreme edge of the horizontal diameter of the object ball.

From Hoyle's Games Modernized by Hoffmann, Louis

The various strokes are as under: 1.—A winning hazard is made by the player causing his own ball to hit an object ball and forcing the latter into a pocket.

From Hoyle's Games Modernized by Hoffmann, Louis

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