ball
ball (bôl)
noun
- any round, or spherical, object; sphere; globe
- a planet or star, esp. the earth
- a round or egg-shaped object used in various games
- any of several such games, esp. baseball
- a throw or pitch of a ball
- a solid missile or projectile for a cannon or firearm
- such projectiles for firearms, collectively
- a rounded part of the body the ball of the foot
- Slang
- Vulgar a testicle: usually used in pl.
- daring or courage
- ☆ Baseball a pitch that is wide of the plate or goes above the armpit (or shoulder in slow-pitch softball) or below the knee of the batter, who does not swing at it: four balls allow the batter to go to first base
- Hort. the roots of a plant, bound and packed for shipping
Etymology: ME bal < OE *beallu < IE base *bhel-, to swell > bowl, bladder, ON bǫllr, OHG balla, Gr phallos, L follis & flare
intransitive verb, transitive verb
- to form into a ball
- Slang, Vulgar to have sexual intercourse (with)
be on the ball
☆carry the ball
☆get (or keep) the ball rolling
☆have something on the ball
☆play ball
- ☆ to begin or resume playing a ballgame
- ☆ to begin or resume any activity
- ☆ Informal to cooperate
ball (bôl)
noun
- a formal social dance
- Slang an enjoyable time, event, or experience
Etymology: Fr bal < OFr baller, to dance < LL ballare < Gr ballein, to throw (with sense of ballizein, to dance, jump about) < IE base *gwel-, to drip, spring forth, throw > Ger quelle, a spring
Ball (bôl)
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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