ball

SayBAWL/bɔl/UK/bɔːl/

35 meanings of ball

1
sports objectnouncountable
A round or egg-shaped object used in sports and games.
She kicked the ball into the net to win the game.
He bounced the ball twice before shooting his free throw.
UsageSay a tennis ball or a golf ball, and kick the ball.
Note
2
round shapenouncountable or uncountable
A round object, or something rolled or wound into a round shape, like a ball of string.
The cat curled up into a tight ball on the sofa.
He squeezed the wet clay into a smooth ball.
UsageSay a ball of clay, or curl up into a ball.
Similarsphere, globe, orb
3
playing sportsnoununcountable
A sport or game played with a ball, or the playing of it. Play ball can also mean to work together.
Do you want to play ball after school?
The kids play ball in the empty lot every evening.
UsageSay play ball, with no a or the: Let's play ball!
Note
4
formal dancenouncountable
A large formal party where people dance.
Cinderella lost her glass slipper as she ran from the ball at midnight.
Everyone wore long dresses and suits to the school's winter ball.
Similardance, gala
Note
5
testiclenounslangvulgarcountable
A testicle, one of the two round sex organs in a bag of skin between a male's legs.
The vet told us our puppy was born with only one ball.
He got kicked in the balls during the fight and could not stand up for a minute.
UsageDoctors say testicles. Balls is for casual talk.
Similartesticle
6
cricket deliverynouncountable
In cricket, each single time the bowler bowls the ball to the batter. Six fair ones make an over.
The first ball of the match flew past the batter.
He scored ten runs from just three balls.
Similardelivery
Note
7
long kicknouncountable
A kick or hit that sends the ball to a teammate or into space, often over a long distance.
The defender played a long ball up the field for the striker to chase.
Her ball over the defense found open space near the goal.
Note
8
cannon shotnouncountable
A solid bullet or round shot fired from a gun or cannon.
Some hunters still load their old-style guns with powder and a lead ball.
The cannon fired heavy iron balls across the river at the enemy camp.
Similarshot, bullet
Note
9
nouncountable or uncountable
A round part that sticks out from somewhere on the body, for example on the thumb.
She pressed the doorbell with the ball of her thumb.
A blister came up on the ball of his thumb after hours of video games.
UsageSay the ball of your thumb.
Note

Less common meanings

10
couragenounslangmildly vulgarcountable or uncountableplural
A rude slang word for courage or bravery.
It took balls to stand up to the coach like that.
Nobody else had the balls to tell her the truth.
UsageSay she had the balls to say no, or it takes balls.
Similarguts, nerve, courage, cojones
Note
11
great funnouncolloquialcountable
A time when you have a lot of fun.
We had a ball at the beach, swimming and building sandcastles.
The kids had a ball at the birthday party.
UsageSay we had a ball at the party.
Similarblast
Note
12
front of footnouncountable or uncountable
The soft, rounded part on the bottom of your foot, just behind your toes.
Like a built-in cushion under the front part of your foot.
Dancers balance on the ball of each foot.
My new shoe rubbed a blister on the ball of my foot.
UsageSay the ball of your foot.
Note
13
bad pitchnouncountable
In baseball, a pitch that misses the strike zone and that the batter does not swing at.
Like a throw in a carnival game that misses the target.
The umpire called the low pitch a ball.
Four balls in a row sent the batter to first base.
Oppositestrike
Note
14
form lumpsverbtransitive
To make something into a ball shape, or to stick together in lumps, like wet snow.
Ball the dough into small rounds before baking.
She balled the paper and threw it across the room.
UsageSay ball up the paper.
Similarroll, wind, clench
15
play basketballverbslangintransitive
To play a game of basketball.
We ball at the park every Saturday, shooting at the old hoop until lunch.
He's been balling since he was six, dreaming of the NBA.
UsageUse she can really ball to say that she plays basketball very well.
Similarhoop
Note
16
nonsensenounslangmildly vulgarUKcountable or uncountableplural
A rude word for nonsense or silly talk.
Don't believe him. That story is total balls.
He said the test was canceled, but that turned out to be balls.
UsageCommon phrases: a load of balls, total balls.
Similarrubbish, nonsense, crap, bollocks
Note
17
nouncountable
A competition where LGBTQ+ performers, mostly Black and Latino, win prizes for drag and dance.
She practiced voguing for weeks before her first ball.
At the ball, judges scored each performer's costume and confidence.
UsageSay she walked her first ball.
Note
18
verbslangintransitive
To spend a lot of money in a big, showy way.
Payday came, and he wanted to ball, so he bought new shoes and dinner for everyone.
She was balling at the mall, buying gifts for everyone.
Similarsplurge
Oppositesave, scrimp
Note
19
Earthnouncountable or uncountable
The Earth, seen as one big round object in space.
Astronauts gazed down at the blue ball turning slowly beneath them.
Eight billion people share this one small ball.
UsageWorld is more usual. You may hear this big blue ball when someone describes the Earth.
Similarglobe, planet
Note
20
have sexverbvulgarUStransitive or intransitive
To have sex, or to have sex with someone.
He bragged that he balled her after the party.
Back then, the two of them would sneak off to ball in the back of his van.
Similarbang, bone, bonk, mount, penetrate
Note
21
warning shoutinterjection
A shout that warns players on the next court that a loose ball is rolling toward them.
"Ball!" she yelled, and the players on the next court stopped their game.
Someone shouted "Ball!" so we waited to serve until the loose ball was tossed back.
Note
22
noun
The part of a rhythmic gymnastics contest where each athlete performs a routine with a ball.
23
noun
One of the chances a pinball player gets to shoot and play before the game ends.
24
verbslang
To be very cool or impressive in the way you look or act.
25
nounslang
A thousand dollars, in slang.
26
noun
In math, all the points within a set distance of a center point, like a solid sphere.
27
verbslang
To drive or ride very fast.
28
nounobsolete
Bullets or round shot taken together as a supply of ammunition.
This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship.
1851, Herman Melville, Moby-Dick
29
noun
An old printer's tool, a stuffed leather pad used to put ink on type.
30
noun
A large pill given to a horse.
The laxative alterative has not this advantage, the aloes, of which it is composed, being extremely bitter, and therefore requiring to be given in the form of a ball.
1842, James White, A compendium of the veterinary art
31
verb
To shape furnace-heated iron into round lumps that can then go through rollers.
32
verb
To vote against letting someone join a fraternity or sorority.
33
verb
To punish a prisoner by chaining a heavy weight to the leg.
34
verb
Of bees, to pack around a wasp and kill it with heat.
35
interjection
In Australian football, a shout from fans who want a tackled player punished for keeping the ball.

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–3, 5–10, 12–16, 18–21

It comes from an old Germanic word for a round object, which goes back to a root meaning 'to swell'.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Ball derives from an old Germanic word meaning a round object. en.wiktionary.org
The Germanic ancestor ultimately derives from a root meaning to swell. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 4, 11, 17

It comes through French from a Late Latin word meaning 'to dance'.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact

English ball, meaning a dance, comes through French from a Late Latin word meaning 'to dance'. en.wiktionary.org