Horticulture. a compact mass of soil covering the roots of an uprooted tree or other plant.
Literary. a planetary or celestial body, especially the earth.
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)
to make into a ball (sometimes followed by up): The children were balling up snow to make a snowman.
to wind into balls: to ball cotton.
Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse with.
verb (used without object)
to form or gather into a ball: When the spun sugar balls, the candy has cooked sufficiently.
Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse.
Verb Phrases
ball up, Slang. to make or become utterly confused; muddle: The records had been all balled up by inefficient file clerks.
Idioms
ball the jack, Slang.
to act with speed.
to stake everything on one attempt.
carry the ball, to assume the responsibility; bear the burden: You can always count on him to carry the ball in an emergency.
drop the ball, to make a mistake or miss an opportunity at a critical moment.
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.
on the ball,
alert and efficient or effective: If you don't get on the ball, you'll be fired.
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.
play ball,
to begin or continue playing a game.
to start or continue any action.
to work together; cooperate: union leaders suspected of playing ball with racketeers.
run with the ball, to assume responsibility or work enthusiastically: If management approves the concept, we'll run with the ball.
start the ball rolling, to put into operation; begin: The recreation director started the ball rolling by having all the participants introduce themselves.
Origin of ball
1
1175–1225;Middle Englishbal, balle < Old French < Germanic*ballaz; compare Old Norsebǫllr,Old High Germanbal, ballo, balla,GermanBall,Dutchbal; perhaps akin to Latinfollis leather bag; see ballock(s)
Related formsball·er, nounCan be confusedbaldballedbawled
horticulturethe hard mass of roots and earth removed with the rest of the plant during transplanting
ball of muscleAustraliana very strong, fit, or forceful person
have the ball at one's feetto have the chance of doing something
keep the ball rollingto maintain the progress of a project, plan, etc
on the ballinformalalert; informed
play ballinformalto cooperate
set the ball rollingorstart the ball rollingto open or initiate (an action, discussion, movement, etc)
the ball is in your courtyou are obliged to make the next move
verb
(tr)to make, form, wind, etc, into a ball or ballsto ball wool
(intr)to gather into a ball or balls
taboo, slang, mainlyUSto copulate (with)
Word Origin for ball
C13: from Old Norse böllr; related to Old High German balla, Italian palla French balle
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
ball
2
noun
a social function for dancing, esp one that is lavish or formal
informala very enjoyable time (esp in the phrase have a ball)
Word Origin for ball
C17: from French bal (n), from Old French baller (vb), from Late Latin ballāre to dance, from Greek ballizein
"round object," Old English *beal, from or corresponding to Old Norse bollr "ball," from Proto-Germanic *balluz (cf. Old High German ballo, German Ball), from PIE root *bhel- (2) "to blow, inflate, swell" (see bole).
Meaning "testicle" is from early 14c. Ball of the foot is from mid-14c. A ball as an object in a sports game is recorded from c.1200; To have the ball "hold the advantage" is from c.1400. To be on the ball is 1912, from sports. Ball-point pen first recorded 1946. Ball of fire when first recorded in 1821 referred to "a glass of brandy;" as "spectacularly successful striver" it is c.1900.
ball
n.2
"dancing party," 1630s, from French, from Old French baller "to dance," from Late Latin ballare "to dance," from Greek ballizein "to dance, jump about" (see ballistics). Hence, "very enjoyable time," 1945, American English slang, perhaps back to 1930s in black slang.
ball
v.
1650s, "make into a ball," from ball (n.1). Sense of "to become like a ball" is 1713; that of "to copulate" is first recorded 1940s in jazz slang, either from the noun sense of "testicle" or "enjoyable time" (from ball (n.2)). Related: Balled; balling.
Cooperate, as in The opposing attorneys refused to play ball with us. [Slang; c. 1900]
2
Get going, start, as in It's time to get a move on; let's play ball. This usage comes from the baseball umpire's call to start a game. [Slang; late 1800s]
