Ball meaning

What does “ball” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“ball” is a noun and verb with 13 meanings. Its most common meaning is: round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games.

ball

noun

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

    “the ball travelled 90 mph on his serve”

    “the mayor threw out the first ball”

  2. a solid projectile that is shot by a musket

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

    Synonymsmusket ball
  3. an object with a spherical shape

    “a ball of fire”

    Synonymsglobeorb
  4. the people assembled at a lavish formal dance

    “the ball was already emptying out before the fire alarm sounded”

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

    “she kicked him in the balls and got away”

  6. a spherical object used as a plaything

    “he played with his rubber ball in the bathtub”

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

    SynonymsLucille Ball
  8. a compact mass

    “a ball of mud caught him on the shoulder”

  9. a lavish dance requiring formal attire

    Synonymsformal
  10. a more or less rounded anatomical body or mass

    “the ball at the base of the thumb”

    “he stood on the balls of his feet”

  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

    “he played baseball in high school”

    “there was a baseball game on every empty lot”

  12. a pitch that is not in the strike zone

    “he threw nine straight balls before the manager yanked him”

verb

  1. form into a ball by winding or rolling

    “ball wool”

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University