noun
basketball
BAHS-kiht-bawl
noun
1
A team sport in which players score points by throwing a ball through a raised hoop.
"They played basketball every day after school."
2
The inflated ball used to play this sport.
"He dribbled the basketball down the court."
How to Use Basketball
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe hoop sport, or the ball used to play it.
Common pairings
play basketball
basketball court
basketball team
Word Forms
basketballed past tense, basketballs plural, basketballs singular
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Etymology
From basket + ball, since the game was originally played by throwing a ball into peach baskets.