ball
♦♦ ball /b'ɔːl/ (balls balling balled)
1 [N-COUNT]
A ball is a round object that is used in games such as tennis, baseball, football, basketball, and cricket.
...a golf ball.
...a tennis ball.
2 [N-COUNT] oft N of n
A ball is something or an amount of something that has a round shape.
Thomas screwed the letter up into a ball...
They heard a loud explosion and saw a ball of fire go up.
3 [VERB] V n adv/prep, V adv/prep
When you ball something or when it balls, it becomes round.
He picked up the sheets of paper, and balled them tightly in his fists...
His hands balled into fists...
4 [N-COUNT] usu the N of n
The ball of your foot or the ball of your thumb is the rounded part where your toes join your foot or where your thumb joins your hand.
5 [N-COUNT]
A ball is a large formal social event at which people dance.
6 [N-COUNT] usu pl
A man's balls are his testicles. (INFORMAL, RUDE)
7
see also balls
8 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that the ball is in someone's court, you mean that it is his or her responsibility to take the next action or decision in a situation.
The ball's now in your court-you have to decide what you're going to do.
9 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you get the ball rolling, set the ball rolling, or start the ball rolling, you start something happening.
He will go to the Middle East next week to get the ball rolling again on peace talks...
10 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If someone is on the ball, they are very alert and aware of what is happening.
She really is on the ball; she's bought houses at auctions so she knows what she's doing.
11 [PHRASE] V inflects
If someone refuses to play ball, they are unwilling to do what someone wants them to do. (INFORMAL)
The association has threatened to withdraw its support if the banks and building societies refuse to play ball.ball bear|ing (ball bearings)
also ball-bearing
[N-COUNT]
Ball bearings are small metal balls placed between the moving parts of a machine to make the parts move smoothly.ball boy (ball boys)
[N-COUNT]
In a tennis match, the ball boys pick up any balls that go into the net or off the court and throw them back to the players. In a baseball game, the ball boys are in charge of collecting the balls that are hit out of the field.ball game (ball games)
also ballgame
1 [N-COUNT] usu pl
Ball games are games that are played with a ball such as tennis, baseball, and football.
2 [N-COUNT]
A ball game is a baseball match. (AM)
I'd still like to go to a ball game.
3 [N-SING]
You can use ball game to describe any situation or activity, especially one that involves competition. (JOURNALISM SPOKEN)
Two of his biggest competitors are out of the ball game.
[PHRASE]
If you say that a situation is a new ball game, you mean that it is completely different from, or much more difficult than, the previous situation or any situation that you have experienced before.
He finds himself faced with a whole new ball game.ball girl (ball girls)
[N-COUNT]
In a tennis match, the ball girls pick up any balls that go into the net or off the court and throw them back to the players. In a baseball game, the ball girls are in charge of collecting the balls that are hit out of the field.beach ball (beach balls)
[N-COUNT]
A beach ball is a large, light ball filled with air, which people play with, especially on the beach.crys|tal ball (crystal balls)
[N-COUNT]
If you say that someone, especially an expert, looks into a crystal ball, you mean that they are trying to predict the future. Crystal balls are traditionally used by fortune-tellers.
Local economists have looked into their crystal balls and seen something rather nasty...golf ball (golf balls)
[N-COUNT]
A golf ball is a small, hard white ball which people use when they are playing golf.
1 [N-COUNT]
A ball is a round object that is used in games such as tennis, baseball, football, basketball, and cricket.
...a golf ball.
...a tennis ball.
2 [N-COUNT] oft N of n
A ball is something or an amount of something that has a round shape.
Thomas screwed the letter up into a ball...
They heard a loud explosion and saw a ball of fire go up.
3 [VERB] V n adv/prep, V adv/prep
When you ball something or when it balls, it becomes round.
He picked up the sheets of paper, and balled them tightly in his fists...
His hands balled into fists...
4 [N-COUNT] usu the N of n
The ball of your foot or the ball of your thumb is the rounded part where your toes join your foot or where your thumb joins your hand.
5 [N-COUNT]
A ball is a large formal social event at which people dance.
6 [N-COUNT] usu pl
A man's balls are his testicles. (INFORMAL, RUDE)
7
see also balls
8 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that the ball is in someone's court, you mean that it is his or her responsibility to take the next action or decision in a situation.
The ball's now in your court-you have to decide what you're going to do.
9 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you get the ball rolling, set the ball rolling, or start the ball rolling, you start something happening.
He will go to the Middle East next week to get the ball rolling again on peace talks...
10 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If someone is on the ball, they are very alert and aware of what is happening.
She really is on the ball; she's bought houses at auctions so she knows what she's doing.
11 [PHRASE] V inflects
If someone refuses to play ball, they are unwilling to do what someone wants them to do. (INFORMAL)
The association has threatened to withdraw its support if the banks and building societies refuse to play ball.ball bear|ing (ball bearings)
also ball-bearing
[N-COUNT]
Ball bearings are small metal balls placed between the moving parts of a machine to make the parts move smoothly.ball boy (ball boys)
[N-COUNT]
In a tennis match, the ball boys pick up any balls that go into the net or off the court and throw them back to the players. In a baseball game, the ball boys are in charge of collecting the balls that are hit out of the field.ball game (ball games)
also ballgame
1 [N-COUNT] usu pl
Ball games are games that are played with a ball such as tennis, baseball, and football.
2 [N-COUNT]
A ball game is a baseball match. (AM)
I'd still like to go to a ball game.
3 [N-SING]
You can use ball game to describe any situation or activity, especially one that involves competition. (JOURNALISM SPOKEN)
Two of his biggest competitors are out of the ball game.
[PHRASE]
If you say that a situation is a new ball game, you mean that it is completely different from, or much more difficult than, the previous situation or any situation that you have experienced before.
He finds himself faced with a whole new ball game.ball girl (ball girls)
[N-COUNT]
In a tennis match, the ball girls pick up any balls that go into the net or off the court and throw them back to the players. In a baseball game, the ball girls are in charge of collecting the balls that are hit out of the field.beach ball (beach balls)
[N-COUNT]
A beach ball is a large, light ball filled with air, which people play with, especially on the beach.crys|tal ball (crystal balls)
[N-COUNT]
If you say that someone, especially an expert, looks into a crystal ball, you mean that they are trying to predict the future. Crystal balls are traditionally used by fortune-tellers.
Local economists have looked into their crystal balls and seen something rather nasty...golf ball (golf balls)
[N-COUNT]
A golf ball is a small, hard white ball which people use when they are playing golf.