ball
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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 © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Alternate definitions:
ball
n.
A spherical body
globe, spheroid, sphere, balloon, orb, perisphere, globule, globular or rounded or spherical or orbicular object, drop, knot, marble, pellet, glob, pill*. A game played with a ball
In baseball, a pitch that is not swung at and is not a strike
wild pitch, inside pitch, outside pitch, wide one*, high baby*, duster*, insider*. * Missile for a gun
bullet, shell, lead; see ammunition, shot 2.A dance
grand ball, dance, promenade, reception; see dance 2, party 1.
carry the ball*
get<strong> <em>or</em> </strong>keep the ball rolling*
have a ball</em> revel, have fun, celebrate; see enjoy oneself, play</em> 1. on the ball*
Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Converse of object
- kick: With all his might, he kicked the ball straight at the goal.
Preposition: into
- net: At times in the first half we seemed to want to literally walk the ball into the net.
Adjective modifier
- loose: A shot from Andy Baird was parried by Michael Parkin and the loose ball found Howard Forinton who shot into the net.
Modifies a noun
- bearing: The head, wheel slot and ball bearing axle are hardened to minimize wear.
Noun used with modifier
- tennis: A Jack Russell terrier tolerated the visitors, provided he was kept busy racing after a thrown tennis ball.
Preposition: of
- innings: Paul and Guss, getting Guss run out for a diamond duck in just the second ball of the innings!
Preposition: with
- four: His century coming off 110 balls with 11 fours.
The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.
It quickly swelled into the shape of a gigantic question mark, the middle of which was a vivid crimson, and as this thunderhead-like column billowed upward through the sky, she could see a red ball of fire at its core.
This stone commemorates the exploit of William Webb Ellis, who, with a fine disregard for therules of football as played in his time, first took the ball in his arms and ran with it, thus originating the distinctive feature of the Rugby game.1823.
The British'Sphere of Influence'öthe cricket ball.
Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Cite this page:
MLA Style
"ball." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009
- Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
- <www.yourdictionary.com/ball>
APA Style
ball. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary
- Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/ball

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