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ball

ball

275 1.0
A solid round mass of material, like yarn or clay
  • noun
  • /bɔl/
translation icon : bola
  • The little lady can't dance, she can't tell any jokes... and she can't balance rubber balls on her little nose.
  • ball bearing
  • a ball of thread
  • ball screw

And then you get the caviar ball nail things in gleam.

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Examples

  • It's the original Champions League ball.

  • Could I have some cotton balls for my nose?

  • On the screen, a small, fuzzy, green ball seems to roll up and down in the surf.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Peppy had found some dust balls behind the piano that she was bent on eating.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Gustav, meanwhile, is dribbling the ball semi-spastically, and for a while, I do nothing but watch him.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Under the high hedge, a hedgehog rolled itself into a prickly ball at Oscar's approach.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • In Tale of Genji, diners enjoy tojiki, portable rice balls meant to be eaten outdoors.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The children played with a round ball in the park.

  • She picked up the ball and threw it to her dog.

  • He made a ball of yarn to use for his knitting project.

Synonyms

baseball
vsball
289 1.0

A small hard ball with a leather cover used in the sport played with bats and bases

is a simple solid or compact spherical mass without sport features
football
vsball
262 1.0

A ball that is round in soccer or oval in American football

is specifically a solid or compact mass that is spherical or nearly so
basketball
vsball
156 1.0

A round ball you pump up and use in the game with a hoop

is a compact solid spherical mass rather than a large inflatable sports item
snowball
vsball
  • UK
57 1.0

A round ball of snow made for throwing during play

is the general solid spherical mass, not made from seasonal material like snow
globe
vsball
30 1.0

A round object shaped like a ball

is a simple solid or compact spherical mass rather than a model
golf ball
vsball
30 1.0

A small hard round thing with dimples that players hit in the game of golf

is any solid sphere rather than a sport-specific, engineered object
orb
vsball
  • Literature
27 7.7

A round object like the sun or a ball

is the plain solid spherical mass described in ordinary terms
tennis ball
vsball
20 1.0

A small yellow or white ball covered with felt used to play tennis

is a plain solid or compact spherical mass rather than a covered sports object
soccer ball
vsball
  • US
16 1.0

A round inflated object that players kick with their feet to play soccer

is a solid or compact spherical mass, not specifically made for sport
volleyball
vsball
5 1.0

A round ball filled with air used in the game played over a high net

is the general solid spherical mass, not tied to any sport use
billiard ball
vsball
4 2.9

A hard round ball used to play billiards on a table

is the general compact spherical mass, not specialized for a game
ball of yarn
vsball
3 1.0

A round mass of yarn made for knitting or crocheting

is a solid or compact spherical object not produced by winding soft material
melon ball
vsball
2 1.9

A small round piece of melon made with a scoop

is a general solid spherical mass rather than a shaped food piece
beachball
vsball
1 1.0

A large lightweight plastic ball used for fun at the beach or pool

is a solid or compact mass, not a large lightweight recreational inflatable
squash ball
vsball
1 2.7

A small rubber ball used in a fast game played in a court with four walls

is a basic solid or compact spherical mass not defined by bounce or sport
globus
vsball
9.1

A round object like a ball or glass ornament

is the basic solid spherical object without special naming or role
cannon ball
vsball
  • Archaic
4.1

A heavy round metal ball fired from a cannon in the past

is an ordinary compact spherical object, not a weapon or projectile

Idioms

to drop the ball
  • Informal
38 6.1

Fail to do something you are responsible for

to have a ball
  • Informal
31 6.5

Enjoy yourself a lot

Pay attention to the main goal and avoid distractions

13 6.3

To notice things quickly and act to fix them

on the ball
  • Informal
9 5.6

Quick to notice and understand things

Stop paying attention to what is important

It is now someone's turn to act or decide

3 9.6

In a difficult situation with little chance to make things better

Leave a game or group angrily because you did not get your way

2 7.1

All the parts and activities of a project or situation

1 7.7

To be alert and ready to act

ball of fire
  • Informal
1 5.4

A person who is very energetic and enthusiastic

to catch no ball
  • Informal
9.9

To not understand anything in a talk or explanation

Having no hair on the head

To let someone else decide what to do next

To focus on the issue, not on the person

9.3

A person who is not smart and is slow to understand things

Delay acting until an important event happens

Compounds

58 1.0

A game played with a ball, like baseball or football

30 1.0

A small hard round thing with dimples that players hit in the game of golf

28 6.9

A glass sphere fortune-tellers look into to see the future

22 1.8

A large heavy ball with three finger holes used to knock down pins

20 1.0

A small yellow or white ball covered with felt used to play tennis

fly ball
  • Specialized
16 3.1

A ball hit high into the air in baseball

16 1.0

A round inflated object that players kick with their feet to play soccer

ground ball
  • Jargon
12 3.4

In baseball, a ball hit so it rolls or bounces on the ground

12 2.8

A ball in baseball hit outside the marked lines that is not in play

11 1.0

A large light ball filled with air for play on the beach or in a pool

ball bearing
  • Specialized
8 3.4

A device with small metal balls that helps machine parts move with less rubbing

8 1.9

A place where people play baseball

8 3.5

A long formal dress worn by women to very special events like balls

7 2.5

A professional baseball team that plays and travels together

7 5.9

A soft dumpling made from matzo meal, eggs, and fat, served in soup at Passover

A small, light, hollow plastic ball used in table tennis

7 4.4

A black ball with the number 8 that must be pocketed last in some pool games

5 3.4

A white ball a player hits with a cue to move other balls

breaking ball
  • Jargon
5 6.2

A pitch that curves as it moves toward the batter because the pitcher throws it with spin

A hard round ball used to play billiards on a table

4 2.8

A boy who picks up and gives balls to players during a tennis match

4 4.8

A formal party where guests wear masks and costumes to hide who they are

ball hog
  • Offensive
3 7.7

A player who keeps the ball and rarely passes to teammates

jump ball
  • Specialized
3 4.1

A basketball way where the referee tosses the ball between two players who jump to tap it to a teammate

curve ball
  • Specialized
3 5.0

A baseball throw with spin that curves as it reaches the batter

3 1.0

A round mass of yarn made for knitting or crocheting

ball and chain
  • Archaic
3 6.9

A heavy iron ball attached to a prisoner's leg by a chain

ball-peen hammer
  • Specialized
3 6.3

A hammer with one flat face and one rounded end used to shape metal and drive rivets

A heavy leather ball you throw or lift to build strength and coordination

3 2.7

A round sweet made from popcorn held together with sticky sugar

2 2.8

A player in football or rugby who holds the ball and tries to move forward to score

masked ball
  • Formal
2 4.3

A formal party where people wear masks and fancy costumes

musket ball
  • Archaic
2 8.6

A small round piece of lead that a musket fires

2 3.2

A hollow plastic ball with holes used for a simple bat and ball game

2 1.9

A small round piece of melon made with a scoop

no ball
  • UK
2 7.0

A ball bowled against the rules that gives the batting team a free hit on the next ball

1 5.3

A heavy ball in the Italian game of bocce that players roll to get close to the small target ball

1 8.9

A job or task that is hard and makes you very tired

passed ball
  • Jargon
1 7.0

A pitch the catcher misses that lets a runner advance to the next base

1 2.7

A small round object that players hit in pool, usually numbered and colored

1 5.0

A wooden ball used to play croquet

1 2.5

A hard round ball players use in cricket, made of cork and leather

fair ball
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A ball hit by the batter that lands between the foul lines and is in play

1 7.0

A formal party where people wear costumes and masks and dance

1 1.4

A small round piece of chewing gum with a hard colored sugar coating often sold in vending machines

1 1.2

An oval ball filled with air that people use to play rugby

time-ball
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A ball that drops from a pole at a set time to show the exact time

cotton ball
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A disease caused by a fungus that makes cottony growths on cranberries

ball-and-socket joint
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A joint where a round bone end fits into a cup, allowing movement in many directions

ball-breaker
  • Offensive
1 9.1

A very hard task or job that is tiring and difficult

1 9.9

A woman who is very strict and makes others feel afraid or unhappy

ball cock
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A valve with a floating ball that controls the water level in a toilet tank

ball hawk
  • Slang
1 7.0

A player who often steals or catches the ball from the other team to help their team

ball valve
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A device that controls the flow of water or gas using a round ball inside

1 2.3

Shaped like a ball or nearly round

hero ball
  • Jargon
1 7.7

A player who tries to win alone in important moments instead of trusting teammates

1 3.4

A small metal ball with holes that holds loose tea leaves while brewing

1 5.2

A game at an arcade where you roll balls up a ramp into holes for points

1 2.7

A small rubber ball used in a fast game played in a court with four walls

6.5

A hard ball people use in the Italian game bocce to roll toward a small target

7.7

A wooden ball for the game bocce that players roll toward a small target ball

bosie ball
  • Archaic
9.9

A cricket ball bowled to look like it will turn one way but turns the other

cannon ball
  • Archaic
4.1

A heavy round metal ball fired from a cannon in the past

A small white ball that keeps moths away from stored clothes

change-of-pace ball
  • Specialized
7.9

A baseball pitch thrown much slower than expected to surprise a batter

codfish ball
  • Canadian
8.1

A small ball of mashed potato made with salted cod and often breaded and fried

dirt ball
  • Offensive
8.7

A person who is very unpleasant and treats others badly

9.9

A valuable underground mushroom that chefs use to give food a strong, earthy taste

ball cartridge
  • Specialized
7.9

A small metal case that contains a bullet and enough powder to fire it

ball fern
  • Indian
8.8

A small plant with delicate feathery leaves from tropical Asia often grown in shaded gardens

ball hawking
  • Jargon
7.3

Skill in catching the ball from opponents during a game, especially in football or basketball

9.9

A prickly weed with pale yellow flowers and yellow berry-like fruit found in the southeastern United States

A rough prickly weed with pale yellow flowers and small yellow berries that can be poisonous

How Round

sphere
69 2.8
orb
  • Literature
27 7.7
ball
275 1.0
rounded
1 2.4
lump
77 2.0

Surface Forms

ball singular
balls plural

Etymology

Ball This meaning of ball comes from the same old word for 'round thing' and was used when people wound yarn into a neat round 'ball', so a 'ball of yarn' is a round bundle.