ball
∞
1.0
- noun
- /bɔl/
:
pelota
- During the game, he expertly caught the ball while running.
- throw the ball
- kick the ball
- hit the ball
You know, it was a great ball from Milner.
- You know, it was a great ball from Milner.
- So it's here, pop the ball up, swipe under and catch.
- I put the Pokémon inside the ball and catch all the Pokémon.
- And it's easy to lose your ball over into their yard.
Examples
-
In my first two at-bats, I hit the ball hard and far, making two home runs.
Academic text (1990) -
Second base and shortstop, be ready to throw the ball home.
-
Getting this little ball into this cup.
-
Well, can you throw a ball? - Not at all.
-
OK, so watch what happened if I spin the ball right?
-
The count is two balls, one strike.
-
When the music stops, the student with the ball begins passing the ball around the circle.
Academic text (2013) -
Give me the ball.
-
Our company just did a deal to donate a million soccer balls made out of disaster relief packaging to kids in the Sudan, so we do the logistics.
-
The children kicked the ball back and forth in the park.
Synonyms
289
1.0
A small hard ball with a leather cover used in the sport played with bats and bases
262
1.0
A ball that is round in soccer or oval in American football
156
1.0
A round ball you pump up and use in the game with a hoop
30
1.0
A small hard round thing with dimples that players hit in the game of golf
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
16
1.0
A round inflated object that players kick with their feet to play soccer
11
1.0
A large light ball filled with air for play on the beach or in a pool
7
1.0
A small, light, hollow plastic ball used in table tennis
5
1.0
A round ball filled with air used in the game played over a high net
4
2.9
A hard round ball used to play billiards on a table
3
3.1
A heavy leather ball you throw or lift to build strength and coordination
1
2.0
A soft, light ball thrown by players to try to hit others
1
5.3
A heavy ball in the Italian game of bocce that players roll to get close to the small target ball
1
2.0
A large rubber ball children kick in playground games
1
3.2
A small hollow rubber ball used to play an indoor racket sport
1
2.7
A small round object that players hit in pool, usually numbered and colored
1
1.6
A small rubber ball used to play the sport
1
1.0
A large lightweight plastic ball used for fun at the beach or pool
1
2.7
A small rubber ball used in a fast game played in a court with four walls
A large rubber ball used for playground games like four square or kickball
A small rubber ball used to play lacrosse
A small hard round object that players hit in field hockey
A small hard ball used in a game where players hit it with a mallet
A small wooden ball that players hit with a long stick in the sport of polo
The ball the cue ball is meant to hit first
Idioms
- Informal
3
9.6
In a difficult situation with little chance to make things better
- Informal
2
9.3
Leave a game or group angrily because you did not get your way
Compounds
- Specialized
8
3.4
A device with small metal balls that helps machine parts move with less rubbing
- Jargon
5
6.2
A pitch that curves as it moves toward the batter because the pitcher throws it with spin
- Formal
4
4.8
A formal party where guests wear masks and costumes to hide who they are
- Specialized
3
4.1
A basketball way where the referee tosses the ball between two players who jump to tap it to a teammate
- Specialized
3
6.3
A hammer with one flat face and one rounded end used to shape metal and drive rivets
2
2.8
A player in football or rugby who holds the ball and tries to move forward to score
- 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
- Specialized
1
3.9
A ball hit by the batter that lands between the foul lines and is in play
1
1.4
A small round piece of chewing gum with a hard colored sugar coating often sold in vending machines
- Specialized
1
9.9
A disease caused by a fungus that makes cottony growths on cranberries
- Specialized
1
4.1
A joint where a round bone end fits into a cup, allowing movement in many directions
- Specialized
1
7.0
A valve with a floating ball that controls the water level in a toilet tank
- Slang
1
7.0
A player who often steals or catches the ball from the other team to help their team
- Specialized
1
4.1
A device that controls the flow of water or gas using a round ball inside
- Jargon
1
7.7
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
How Big
3
3.1
262
1.0
∞
1.0
289
1.0
20
1.0
7
1.0
58
1.0
Surface Forms
Etymology
Ball The word ball comes from an old German word meaning 'round thing', so imagine a small round object you can throw or kick, which is why ball means the round object used in games.