ball

¹ball

noun, often attributive \ˈbȯl\

Definition of BALL

1

: a round or roundish body or mass: as a : a spherical or ovoid body used in a game or sport <a tennis ball> —used figuratively in phrases like the ball is in your court to indicate who has the responsibility or opportunity for further action b : earth, globe c : a spherical or conical projectile; also : projectiles used in firearms d : a roundish protuberant anatomical structure (as near the tip of a human finger or toe or at the base of a thumb); especially : the part of the sole of the human foot between the toes and arch on which the main weight of the body rests in normal walking

2

a often vulgar : testis b plural (1) often vulgar : nonsense —often used interjectionally (2) often vulgar : nerve 3

3

: a game in which a ball is thrown, kicked, or struck; also : quality of play in such a game

4

a : a pitch not swung at by the batter that fails to pass through the strike zone b : a hit or thrown ball in various games <foul ball>

— on the ball

1

: competent, knowledgeable, alert <the other introductory essay … is much more on the ball — Times Literary Supplement> <keep on the ball>

2

: of ability or competence <if the teacher has something on the ball, the pupils won't squirm much — New Yorker>

Origin of BALL

Middle English bal, prob from Old English *beall; akin to Old English bealluc testis, Old High German balla ball, Old Norse bǫllr, Old English blāwan to blow — more at blow

First Known Use: 13th century

Rhymes with BALL

all, awl, bawl, brawl, call, caul, crawl, doll, drawl, fall, gall, hall, haul, kraal, mall, maul, moll, pall, pawl, Saul, scall, scrawl, shawl, small, spall, sprawl, squall, stall, tall, thrall, trawl, wall, yawl