jump ball
3
4.1
- noun
- /dʒʌmp bɔl/
- Specialized
:
salto inicial
- To start the match, the teams lined up for a jump ball to see who would gain possession first.
- win the jump ball
- throw the jump ball
- call for a jump ball
Whatever, whatever, whatever he said, whatever he said at jump ball, I'm letting him know I got this.
- Whatever, whatever, whatever he said, whatever he said at jump ball, I'm letting him know I got this.
Examples
-
In the section competition, the Cavaliers and Rockets missed the opening jump ball.
Blog text (22) -
On Mama's TV at home, five Bulls chase an opening jump ball.
Fiction book (1994) -
After that, it's a jump ball.
-
Jump ball won by the Monks.
-
I know he was out of bounds against the Giants, but the way he attacks the ball in the air gives him a distinct advantage on jump balls.
Blog text (3) -
The young receiver isn't a classic burner, but he is a terrific athlete capable of winning most jump balls thrown down the field.
Blog text (33) -
Singleton fumbled a rebound and was forced into a jump ball; the Bucks recovered and scored on the possession.
Blog text (27) -
During the basketball game, the referee called for a jump ball after the players lost possession.
-
When two players grabbed the ball simultaneously, the game resumed with a jump ball at center court.
Synonyms
3
4.6
The start of a basketball game when players jump for the ball
The jump ball that starts a basketball game
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound 'jump ball' transparently signals an event involving jumping and the ball, so a learner who knows both words can infer it relates to players jumping to contest the ball. However, the precise technical meaning as the specific method of starting or resuming play by tossing the ball between two opponents is a sport-specific convention that is not fully predictable without exposure, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Jump ball comes from basketball: the referee tosses the ball into the air between two players who jump to tap it to a teammate. So it means 'a way to start or resume play'.