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medicine ball

medicine ball

3 3.1
A heavy leather ball you throw or lift to build strength and coordination
  • noun
  • /ˈmɛdɪsɪn bɔl/
translation icon : balón medicinal
  • Subjects were instructed to toss the medicine ball at a 45-degree angle as far forward as possible.
  • medicine ball training
  • medicine ball training program
  • medicine ball exercises

Examples

  • Upper body power was evaluated with the medicine ball toss.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Speed and agility were evaluated with the medicine ball shuttle run.

    Academic text (2006)
  • It's time to play a game with a bunch of these medicine balls.

  • On command, the subject stood up and ran to a second medicine ball placed 15 feet away.

    Academic text (2006)
  • No injuries occurred as a result of medicine ball training throughout the study period.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The medicine ball throw is a valid and reliable measure of arm strength in children.

    Academic text (2018)
  • Some physical education teachers, however, have started to incorporate medicine ball training into their lessons.

    Academic text (2006)
  • While in the push-up position, subjects placed both hands on a leather medicine ball instead of the floor.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Abdominal strength was measured by a medicine ball abdominal curl.

    Academic text (2006)
  • To start, hold a medicine ball in front of you with both hands for your workout.

How Heavy

medicine ball
3 3.1
foam
74 2.6

Surface Forms

medicine ball singular

Morphology

medicine + ball

The compound literally combines 'medicine' (treatment/therapy) and 'ball' (round object), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it's a ball used for medical/therapeutic or exercise purposes. However, the conventional sense — a heavy, weighted training implement used to improve strength and coordination — contains specialized features not fully predictable from the parts, making the transparency partial.

Etymology

The name medicine ball may come from old medical practice when doctors used a heavy ball like a 'medicine' to help weak patients build strength. That's why today medicine ball means a heavy exercise ball used to improve strength and coordination.