ball
- noun
- /bɔl/
- Specialized
- The pitcher threw four balls, giving the batter a free walk to first base.
- ball/strike
- ball call
- threw five balls
You just need someone who can call balls and strikes like anyone, please.
- You just need someone who can call balls and strikes like anyone, please.
- And no, there is no umpire calling balls or strikes.
- That's why an umpire should be calling balls and strikes for one team the same as another team.
- But he got the three balls and walked the home plate.
Examples
-
The first pitch was called a ball, as was the second.
Fiction book (2000) -
So the, the pitcher and the catcher handle the ball on every single play, right?
-
The count is one ball, one strike.
-
At Little League ages, the ball is not pitched very fast, nor does it have much movement.
Academic text (2007) -
The count on the batter was three balls and no strikes.
Fiction book (2000) -
Line drive third-base side, and a foul ball streaks toward us.
Fiction book (2000) -
Branca takes the ball, and the men around the mound recede to the fringes.
Fiction book (1992) -
Same windup, same easy delivery, but the ball came in low, humming and rising; it stung the mitt.
Fiction book (1996) -
After three balls and two strikes, the tension in the stadium was palpable.
-
The umpire called it a ball when the pitch was clearly outside the strike zone.
Idioms
- Informal
In a difficult situation with little chance to make things better
- Informal
Leave a game or group angrily because you did not get your way
Compounds
- Specialized
A device with small metal balls that helps machine parts move with less rubbing
- Jargon
A pitch that curves as it moves toward the batter because the pitcher throws it with spin
- Formal
A formal party where guests wear masks and costumes to hide who they are
- Specialized
A basketball way where the referee tosses the ball between two players who jump to tap it to a teammate
- Specialized
A hammer with one flat face and one rounded end used to shape metal and drive rivets
A player in football or rugby who holds the ball and tries to move forward to score
- UK
A ball bowled against the rules that gives the batting team a free hit on the next ball
A heavy ball in the Italian game of bocce that players roll to get close to the small target ball
- Specialized
A ball hit by the batter that lands between the foul lines and is in play
A small round piece of chewing gum with a hard colored sugar coating often sold in vending machines
- Specialized
A disease caused by a fungus that makes cottony growths on cranberries
- Specialized
A joint where a round bone end fits into a cup, allowing movement in many directions
- Specialized
A valve with a floating ball that controls the water level in a toilet tank
- Slang
A player who often steals or catches the ball from the other team to help their team
- Specialized
A device that controls the flow of water or gas using a round ball inside
- Jargon
A player who tries to win alone in important moments instead of trusting teammates
- Specialized
A baseball pitch thrown much slower than expected to surprise a batter
- Canadian
A small ball of mashed potato made with salted cod and often breaded and fried
- UK
A valuable underground mushroom that chefs use to give food a strong, earthy taste
- Specialized
A small metal case that contains a bullet and enough powder to fire it
- Indian
A small plant with delicate feathery leaves from tropical Asia often grown in shaded gardens
- Jargon
Skill in catching the ball from opponents during a game, especially in football or basketball
- US
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
Surface Forms
Etymology
Ball In baseball, a 'ball' is a pitch that misses the strike area; this use comes from the game's rules and the name of the sport, which is all about the 'ball'.