ball
bawl
Ball (noun) means a round or roughly spherical object, especially one used in sports and games. Example: “Pass me the ball and I'll try to score before the whistle goes.”
noun
1
A round or roughly spherical object, especially one used in sports and games.
"Pass me the ball and I'll try to score before the whistle goes."
"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.
"My grandparents met at a village ball and danced together all evening."
"The school holds a ball each summer for the older pupils."
"She wore a floor-length gown to the charity ball."
verb
1
To form or roll something into a round shape.
"The baby balled her fists and began to cry."
"Roll the dough and ball it up in your hands before baking."
"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
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Word forms
- Plural
- balls
- Third person singular
- balls
- Past tense
- balled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Pass me the _____ and I'll try to score before the whistle goes.
Etymology
From Middle English bal, ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "round object," related to the word for "swell" or "inflate."
Related words
Rhymes for ball
See all rhymes for ball →Frequently asked questions
What does “ball” mean?
The word “ball” means a round or roughly spherical object, especially one used in sports and games. In plain terms, a round object used in play or sport, or a formal dance event.
How do you pronounce “ball”?
“Ball” is pronounced bawl (/bɔːl/ in IPA).
How do you use “ball” in a sentence?
Here is “ball” used in a sentence: “The children kicked the ball around the garden all afternoon.”
What part of speech is “ball”?
Depending on how it is used, “ball” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “ball” come from?
The word “ball” comes from Middle English. From Middle English bal, ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "round object," related to the word for "swell" or "inflate.".
Is “ball” a common word?
“Ball” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “ball” have?
“Ball” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a round or roughly spherical object, especially one used in sports and games.
What is the difference between a ball and a sphere?
A sphere is a precise geometric shape in which every point on the surface is the same distance from the centre. A ball is a physical, roughly round object, which may not be perfectly spherical, as a rugby ball is oval. Sphere is a mathematical idea, while ball is the everyday object.
What are the types of balls used in sports?
Different sports use very different balls. A football and basketball are large and bouncy, a tennis ball is small and felt-covered, a golf ball is hard and dimpled, and a cricket or baseball is dense and stitched. Each is shaped, sized, and weighted for the demands of its game.
What is an example of a ball?
A football is a familiar example, a round, inflated object kicked in play. Other everyday examples include a tennis ball, a beach ball, and a marble. Beyond sport, the word covers anything rolled into a rounded shape, such as a ball of wool or a snowball.
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