BALL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Ball mean? 

• BALL (noun)
  The noun BALL has 12 senses:

1. round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games

2. a solid projectile that is shot by a musket

3. an object with a spherical shape

4. the people assembled at a lavish formal dance

5. one of the two male reproductive glands that produce spermatozoa and secrete androgens

6. a spherical object used as a plaything

7. United States comedienne best known as the star of a popular television program (1911-1989)

8. a compact mass

9. a lavish dance requiring formal attire

10. a more or less rounded anatomical body or mass

11. a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs

12. a pitch that is not in the strike zone

  Familiarity information: BALL used as a noun is familiar.

• BALL (verb)
  The verb BALL has 1 sense:

1. form into a ball by winding or rolling

  Familiarity information: BALL used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BALL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

the ball rolled into the corner pocket

Hypernyms ("ball" is a kind of...):

game equipment (equipment or apparatus used in playing a game)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ball"):

pool ball (ball used in playing pool)

ninepin ball; skittle ball (ball used to knock down ninepins)

ping-pong ball (light hollow ball used in playing table tennis)

polo ball (wooden ball that is struck with mallets in playing polo)

medicine ball (heavy ball used in physical training)

punch bag; punchball; punching bag; punching ball (an inflated ball or bag that is suspended and punched for training in boxing)

racquetball (the ball used in playing the game of racquetball)

roulette ball (the ball used to play roulette)

rugby ball (inflated oval ball used in playing rugby)

soccer ball (an inflated ball used in playing soccer)

playground ball; softball (ball used in playing softball)

squash ball (rubber ball used in playing squash)

tennis ball (ball about the size of a fist used in playing tennis)

volleyball (an inflated ball used in playing volleyball)

Wiffle; Wiffle Ball ((trademark) a hollow plastic ball with cutouts)

bowl; bowling ball (a large ball with finger holes used in the sport of bowling)

marble (a small ball of glass that is used in various games)

baseball (a ball used in playing baseball)

basketball (an inflated ball used in playing basketball)

billiard ball (ball used in playing billiards)

bocce ball; bocci ball; boccie ball (wooden ball that is bowled in the Italian game of bocce)

bowl (a wooden ball (with flattened sides so that it rolls on a curved course) used in the game of lawn bowling)

cricket ball (the ball used in playing cricket)

croquet ball (a wooden ball used in playing croquet)

field hockey ball (ball used in playing field hockey)

football (the inflated oblong ball used in playing American football)

golf ball (a small hard ball used in playing golf; dimpled to reduce wind resistance)

handball (a small rubber ball used in playing the game of handball)

jack (a small ball at which players aim in lawn bowling)

lacrosse ball (ball used in playing lacrosse)

Derivation:

ball (a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A solid projectile that is shot by a musket

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

ball; musket ball

Context example:

they had to carry a ramrod as well as powder and ball

Hypernyms ("ball" is a kind of...):

pellet; shot (a solid missile discharged from a firearm)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An object with a spherical shape

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Synonyms:

ball; globe; orb

Context example:

a ball of fire

Hypernyms ("ball" is a kind of...):

sphere (a solid figure bounded by a spherical surface (including the space it encloses))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ball"):

crystal ball (a glass or crystal globe used in crystal gazing by fortunetellers)

camphor ball; mothball (a small sphere of camphor or naphthalene used to keep moths away from stored clothing)

time-ball (a ball that slides down a staff to show a fixed time; especially at an observatory)

fireball (the luminous center of a nuclear explosion)

fireball (a ball of fire (such as the sun or a ball-shaped discharge of lightning))

globule (a small globe or ball)

spherule; pellet (a small sphere)

bolus (a small round soft mass (as of chewed food))

Sense 4

Meaning:

The people assembled at a lavish formal dance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Context example:

the ball was already emptying out before the fire alarm sounded

Hypernyms ("ball" is a kind of...):

dance (a party of people assembled for dancing)

Meronyms (parts of "ball"):

promenade (a march of all the guests at the opening of a formal dance)

Sense 5

Meaning:

One of the two male reproductive glands that produce spermatozoa and secrete androgens

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

ball; ballock; bollock; egg; nut; orchis; testicle; testis

Context example:

she kicked him in the balls and got away

Hypernyms ("ball" is a kind of...):

gonad; sex gland (a gland in which gametes (sex cells) are produced)

male reproductive gland (the reproductive organs of a man)

Meronyms (parts of "ball"):

arteria testicularis; internal spermatic artery; testicular artery (a branch of the aorta supplying the testicles)

testicular vein; vena testicularis (a vein from the testicles)

seminiferous tubule (any of the numerous long convoluted tubules in the testis which are the sites where spermatozoa mature)

epididymis (a convoluted tubule in each testis; carries sperm to vas deferens)

rete testis (network of tubules carrying sperm from the seminiferous tubules to the vasa efferentia)

ductus deferens; vas deferens (a duct that carries spermatozoa from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct)

spermatic cord (a structure resembling a cord that suspends the testis within the scrotum and contains the vas deferens and other vessels and nerves)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ball"):

cobblers (a man's testicles (from Cockney rhyming slang: cobbler's awl rhymes with ball))

undescended testicle; undescended testis (a testis that fails to move into the scrotum as the male fetus develops)

Holonyms ("ball" is a part of...):

male reproductive system (the reproductive system of males)

family jewels; male genital organ; male genitalia; male genitals (external male sex organs)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A spherical object used as a plaything

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

he played with his rubber ball in the bathtub

Hypernyms ("ball" is a kind of...):

plaything; toy (an artifact designed to be played with)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ball"):

beach ball; beachball (large and light ball; for play at the seaside)

snowball (snow pressed into a ball for throwing (playfully))

Sense 7

Meaning:

United States comedienne best known as the star of a popular television program (1911-1989)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

Ball; Lucille Ball

Instance hypernyms:

actress (a female actor)

comedienne (a female comedian)

Sense 8

Meaning:

A compact mass

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

ball; chunk; clod; clump; glob; lump

Context example:

a ball of mud caught him on the shoulder

Hypernyms ("ball" is a kind of...):

agglomeration (a jumbled collection or mass)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ball"):

clew (a ball of yarn or cord or thread)

gob (a lump of slimy stuff)

clot; coagulum (a lump of material formed from the content of a liquid)

Sense 9

Meaning:

A lavish dance requiring formal attire

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

ball; formal

Hypernyms ("ball" is a kind of...):

dance (a party for social dancing)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ball"):

cotilion; cotillion (a ball at which young ladies are presented to society)

fancy-dress ball; masked ball; masquerade ball (a ball at which guests wear costumes and masks)

prom; promenade (a formal ball held for a school class toward the end of the academic year)

Sense 10

Meaning:

A more or less rounded anatomical body or mass

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Context example:

he stood on the balls of his feet

Hypernyms ("ball" is a kind of...):

anatomical structure; bodily structure; body structure; complex body part; structure (a particular complex anatomical part of a living thing and its construction and arrangement)

Holonyms ("ball" is a part of...):

hand; manus; mitt; paw (the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb)

sole (the underside of the foot)

Derivation:

ball (form into a ball by winding or rolling)

Sense 11

Meaning:

A ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

ball; baseball; baseball game

Context example:

play ball!

Hypernyms ("ball" is a kind of...):

ball game; ballgame (a field game played with a ball (especially baseball))

Domain member category:

hit ((baseball) a successful stroke in an athletic contest (especially in baseball))

bobble (the momentary juggling of a batted or thrown baseball)

error; misplay ((baseball) a failure of a defensive player to make an out when normal play would have sufficed)

fumble; muff ((sports) dropping the ball)

delivery; pitch ((baseball) the act of throwing a baseball by a pitcher to a batter)

bullet; fastball; heater; hummer; smoke ((baseball) a pitch thrown with maximum velocity)

batting ((baseball) the batter's attempt to get on base)

fielding ((baseball) handling the ball while playing in the field)

catching ((baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team)

pitching ((baseball) playing the position of pitcher on a baseball team)

base on balls; pass; walk ((baseball) an advance to first base by a batter who receives four balls)

fair ball ((baseball) a ball struck with the bat so that it stays between the lines (the foul lines) that define the width of the playing field)

foul ball ((baseball) a ball struck with the bat so that it does not stay between the lines (the foul lines) that define the width of the playing field)

bunt ((baseball) the act of hitting a baseball lightly without swinging the bat)

fly; fly ball ((baseball) a hit that flies up in the air)

blast (a very long fly ball)

pop-fly; pop-up; pop fly (a short high fly ball)

ground ball; groundball; grounder; hopper ((baseball) a hit that travels along the ground)

out ((baseball) a failure by a batter or runner to reach a base safely in baseball)

force; force-out; force out; force play (a putout of a base runner who is required to run; the putout is accomplished by holding the ball while touching the base to which the runner must advance before the runner reaches that base)

putout (an out resulting from a fielding play (not a strikeout))

strikeout (an out resulting from the batter getting three strikes)

sacrifice ((baseball) an out that advances the base runners)

base hit; safety ((baseball) the successful act of striking a baseball in such a way that the batter reaches base safely)

line drive; liner ((baseball) a hit that flies straight out from the batter)

plunk; plunker ((baseball) hitting a baseball so that it drops suddenly)

shoestring catch ((baseball) a running catch made near the ground)

tag ((sports) the act of touching a player in a game (which changes their status in the game))

flare ((baseball) a fly ball hit a short distance into the outfield)

Texas leaguer ((baseball) a fly ball that falls between and infielder and an outfielder)

at-bat; bat ((baseball) a turn trying to get a hit)

ball game; ballgame (a field game played with a ball (especially baseball))

assist ((sports) the act of enabling another player to make a good play)

baseball play ((baseball) a play executed by a baseball team)

backstop ((baseball) a fence or screen (as behind home plate) to prevent the ball from traveling out of the playing field)

ballpark; park (a facility in which ball games are played (especially baseball games))

baseball diamond; diamond; infield (the area of a baseball field that is enclosed by 3 bases and home plate)

baseball equipment (equipment used in playing baseball)

home; home base; home plate; plate ((baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score)

hill; mound; pitcher's mound ((baseball) the slight elevation on which the pitcher stands)

batting order; card; lineup ((baseball) a list of batters in the order in which they will bat)

cleanup; cleanup position; cleanup spot ((baseball) the fourth position in the batting order (usually filled by the best batter on the team))

earned run average; ERA ((baseball) a measure of a pitcher's effectiveness; calculated as the average number of earned runs allowed by the pitcher for every nine innings pitched)

ground rule ((baseball) a special rule (as in baseball) dealing with situations that arise due to the nature of the playing grounds)

farm club; farm team (a minor-league team that is owned by a major-league team (especially in baseball))

big league; major league; majors (the most important league in any sport (especially baseball))

bush league; minor league; minors (a league of teams that do not belong to a major league (especially baseball))

lead ((baseball) the position taken by a base runner preparing to advance to the next base)

strike zone ((baseball) the area over home plate between a batter's knees and shoulders through which a pitch must pass in order to be called a strike)

ballplayer; baseball player (an athlete who plays baseball)

baseball coach; baseball manager (a coach of baseball players)

base runner; runner (a baseball player on the team at bat who is on base (or attempting to reach a base))

bat boy ((baseball) a boy who takes care of bats and other baseball equipment)

batsman; batter; hitter; slugger ((baseball) a ballplayer who is batting)

batting coach ((baseball) someone who teaches batters how to bat better)

backstop; catcher ((baseball) the person who plays the position of catcher)

closer; finisher ((baseball) a relief pitcher who can protect a lead in the last inning or two of the game)

pitching coach (an assistant baseball coach in charge of pitchers)

first baseman; first sacker ((baseball) the person who plays first base)

infielder ((baseball) a person who plays a position in the infield)

outfielder ((baseball) a person who plays in the outfield)

right-handed pitcher; right-hander ((baseball) a pitcher who throws with the right hand)

pinch hitter ((baseball) a substitute for the regular batter)

hurler; pitcher; twirler ((baseball) the person who does the pitching)

screwballer ((baseball) a pitcher who throws screwballs)

second baseman; second sacker ((baseball) the person who plays second base)

shortstop ((baseball) the person who plays the shortstop position)

starting pitcher ((baseball) a pitcher who starts in a baseball game)

third baseman; third sacker ((baseball) the person who plays third base)

batting average; hitting average ((baseball) a measure of a batter's performance; the number of base hits divided by the number of official times at bat)

batting average ((an extension of the baseball term) the proportion of times some effort succeeds)

fielding average ((baseball) a measure of a fielder's performance; the number of assists and putouts divided by the number of chances)

triple crown ((baseball) an unofficial title won by a batter who leads the league in hitting average, runs batted in, and home runs)

frame; inning ((baseball) one of nine divisions of play during which each team has a turn at bat)

die (to be on base at the end of an inning, of a player)

fumble (drop or juggle or fail to play cleanly a grounder)

backstop (act as a backstop)

bear down (exert full strength)

catch (be the catcher)

cut down; cut out (intercept (a player))

steal (steal a base)

walk (obtain a base on balls)

drive in (cause a run or runner to be scored)

walk (give a base on balls to)

foul (hit a foul ball)

retire; strike out (cause to get out)

put out (retire)

ground out (make an out by hitting the ball on the ground)

fly (hit a fly)

bounce out (bounce a ball so that it becomes an out)

pop (hit a pop-fly)

ground (hit onto the ground)

ground (hit a groundball)

pull (hit in the direction that the player is facing when carrying through the swing)

connect (hit or play a ball successfully)

bunt; drag a bunt (hit a ball in such a way so as to make it go a short distance)

single (hit a single)

double (hit a two-base hit)

triple (hit a three-base hit)

fan (strike out (a batter), (of a pitcher))

whiff (strike out by swinging and missing the pitch charged as the third)

bat (strike with, or as if with a baseball bat)

bat (use a bat)

bat (have a turn at bat)

switch-hit (bat right-handed against a left-handed and left-handed against a right-handed pitcher)

strike out (put out or be put out by a strikeout)

submarine (throw with an underhand motion)

tag (touch a player while he is holding the ball)

nab (tag the base runner to get him out)

put out; retire (cause to be out on a fielding play)

draw; get (earn or achieve a base by being walked by the pitcher)

run bases (run around the bases, in baseball)

wind up (give a preliminary swing to the arm pitching)

away; outside ((of a baseball pitch) on the far side of home plate from the batter)

fair ((of a baseball) hit between the foul lines)

in-bounds (between the first and third base lines)

foul ((of a baseball) not hit between the foul lines)

safe (having reached a base without being put out)

out (not allowed to continue to bat or run)

ball-hawking (used of a player skilled in stealing the ball or robbing a batter of a hit)

no-hit (of a game (or the pitching) in which a pitcher allows the opponent no hits)

triple-crown (unofficial championship title for player who heads the league in batting average and home runs and runs batted in)

hitless ((of a batter) without a hit)

aboard (on first or second or third base)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ball"):

professional baseball (playing baseball for money)

daisy cutter (a batted or served ball that skims along close to the ground)

steal (a stolen base; an instance in which a base runner advances safely during the delivery of a pitch (without the help of a hit or walk or passed ball or wild pitch))

stickball; stickball game (a form of baseball played in the streets with a rubber ball and broomstick handle)

rounders (an English ball game similar to baseball)

softball; softball game (a game closely resembling baseball that is played on a smaller diamond and with a ball that is larger and softer)

5-hitter; five-hitter (a game in which a pitcher allows the opposing team 5 hits)

4-hitter; four-hitter (a game in which a pitcher allows the opposing team 4 hits)

3-hitter; three-hitter (a game in which a pitcher allows the opposing team only 3 hits)

2-hitter; two-hitter (a game in which a pitcher allows the opposing team only 2 hits)

1-hitter; one-hitter (a game in which a pitcher allows the opposing team only one hit)

no-hit game; no-hitter (a game in which a pitcher allows the opposing team no hits)

perfect game (a game in which a pitcher does not allow any opposing player to reach base)

hardball (baseball as distinguished from softball)

Derivation:

ball (round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games)

Sense 12

Meaning:

A pitch that is not in the strike zone

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

he threw nine straight balls before the manager yanked him

Hypernyms ("ball" is a kind of...):

delivery; pitch ((baseball) the act of throwing a baseball by a pitcher to a batter)

• BALL (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Form into a ball by winding or rolling

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

ball wool

Hypernyms (to "ball" is one way to...):

roll; twine; wind; wrap (arrange or or coil around)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

ball (a more or less rounded anatomical body or mass)

 Context examples 

The next day he again went and asked for his ball; the wild man said: “Open my door,” but the boy would not.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Your head runs too much upon Bath; but there is a time for everything—a time for balls and plays, and a time for work.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

The girls were wild for dancing; and the evenings ended, occasionally, in an unpremeditated little ball.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

I had coasted along the lower wall of the orchard—turned its angle: there was a gate just there, opening into the meadow, between two stone pillars crowned by stone balls.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I'm like an old golf-ball—I've had all the white paint knocked off me long ago.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And Jo shook the blue army sock till the needles rattled like castanets, and her ball bounded across the room.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Brown dwarfs start their lives like stars, as collapsing balls of gas, but they lack the mass to burn nuclear fuel and radiate starlight.

(A cold, close neighbor of the Sun, NASA)

For my own sake, I could wish there had been no ball just at—I mean not this very week, this very day; to-morrow I leave home.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

When Hubble photographed the galaxy, astronomers expected to see a chaotic ball of stars formed through galaxies merging together.

(Massive Dead Disk Galaxy Challenges Theories of Galaxy Evolution, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

"And I thought Oz was a Ball of Fire," exclaimed the Lion.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)