noun
ball
bawl
noun
1
A round or roughly spherical object, especially one used in sports and games.
"The children kicked the ball around the garden all afternoon."
"He hit the ball clean over the boundary for six."
2
A large, formal social gathering for dancing.
"She wore a floor-length gown to the charity ball."
verb
1
To form or roll something into a round shape.
"He balled up the piece of paper and tossed it in the bin."
How to Use Ball
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA round object used in play or sport, or a formal dance event.
Common mistake
"Have a ball" is an idiom meaning to have a great time — it has nothing to do with dancing or sports.
Common pairings
play ball
ball game
have a ball
masquerade ball
Word Forms
balled past tense, balls plural, balls plural, balls singular
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The children kicked the _____ around the garden all afternoon.
Etymology
From Middle English bal, ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "round object," related to the word for "swell" or "inflate."