Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Ball

Ball

(ba̤l)
,
Noun.
[OE.
bal
,
balle
; akin to OHG.
balla
,
palla
, G.
ball
, Icel.
böllr
, ball; cf. F.
balle
. Cf. 1st
Bale
,
Noun.
,
Pallmall
.]
1.
Any round or roundish body or mass; a sphere or globe;
as, a
ball
of twine; a
ball
of snow
.
2.
A spherical body of any substance or size used to play with, as by throwing, knocking, kicking, etc.
3.
A general name for games in which a ball is thrown, kicked, or knocked. See
Baseball
, and
Football
.
4.
Any solid spherical, cylindrical, or conical projectile of lead or iron, to be discharged from a firearm;
as, a cannon
ball
; a rifle
ball
; – often used collectively;
as, powder and
ball
. Spherical balls for the smaller firearms are commonly called
bullets
.
5.
(Pyrotechnics & Mil.)
A flaming, roundish body shot into the air; a case filled with combustibles intended to burst and give light or set fire, or to produce smoke or stench;
as, a fire
ball
; a stink
ball
.
6.
(Print.)
A leather-covered cushion, fastened to a handle called a ballstock; – formerly used by printers for inking the form, but now superseded by the roller.
7.
A roundish protuberant portion of some part of the body;
as, the
ball
of the thumb; the
ball
of the foot
.
8.
(Far.)
A large pill, a form in which medicine is commonly given to horses; a bolus.
White.
9.
The globe or earth.
Pope.
Move round the dark terrestrial
ball
.
Addison.
Ball and socket joint
,
a joint in which a ball moves within a socket, so as to admit of motion in every direction within certain limits.
–
Ball bearings
,
a mechanical device for lessening the friction of axle bearings by means of small loose metal balls.
–
Ball cartridge
,
a cartridge containing a ball, as distinguished from a blank cartridge, containing only powder.
–
Ball cock
,
a faucet or valve which is opened or closed by the fall or rise of a ball floating in water at the end of a lever.
–
Ball gudgeon
,
a pivot of a spherical form, which permits lateral deflection of the arbor or shaft, while retaining the pivot in its socket.
Knight.
–
Ball lever
,
the lever used in a ball cock.
–
Ball of the eye
,
the eye itself, as distinguished from its lids and socket; – formerly, the pupil of the eye.
–
Ball valve
(Mach.)
,
a contrivance by which a ball, placed in a circular cup with a hole in its bottom, operates as a valve.
–
Ball vein
(Mining)
,
a sort of iron ore, found in loose masses of a globular form, containing sparkling particles.
–
Three balls
, or
Three golden balls
,
a pawnbroker’s sign or shop.
–
on the ball
alert; competent and knowledgeable.
–
to carry the ball
to carry on the task; to assume the responsibility.
–
to drop the ball
to fail to perform as expected; to fail to live up to a responsibility.
Syn. – See
Globe
.

Ball

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Balled
(ba̤ld)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Balling
.]
To gather balls which cling to the feet, as of damp snow or clay; to gather into balls;
as, the horse
balls
; the snow
balls
.

Ball

,
Verb.
T.
1.
(Metal.)
To heat in a furnace and form into balls for rolling.
2.
To form or wind into a ball;
as, to
ball
cotton
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Ball

BALL

, n.[L. pila; A ball may signify a mass from collecting, or it may be that which is driven, from the root of L. pello; probably the former.]
1.
A round body; a spherical substance, whether natural or artificial; or a body nearly round; as, a ball for play; a ball of thread; a ball of snow.
2. A bullet; a ball of iron or lead for cannon, muskets, &c.
3. A printer's ball, consisting of hair or wool, covered with leather or skin, and fastened to a stock, called a ball-stock, and used to put ink on the types in the forms.
4.
The globe or earth, from its figure.
5.
A globe borne as an ensign of authority; as, to hold the ball of a kingdom.
6.
Any part of the body that is round or protuberant; as, the eye ball; the ball of the thumb or foot.
7.
The weight at the bottom of a pendulum.
8.
Among the Cornish miners in England, a tin mine.
9.
In pyrotechnics, a composition of combustible ingredients, which serve to burn, smoke or give light.
Ball-stock, among printers, a stock somewhat hollow at one end, to which balls of skin, stuffed with wool, are fastened, and which serves as a handle.
Ball-vein, among miners, a sort of iron ore, found in loose masses, of a circular form, containing sparkling particles.
Ball and socket, an instrument used in surveying and astronomy, made of brass, with a perpetual screw, to move horizontally, obliquely, or vertically.
Puff-ball, in botany, the Lycoperdon, a genus of fungeses.
Fire-ball, a meteor; a luminous globe darting through the atmosphere; also, a bag of canvas filled with gunpowder, sulphur, pitch, saltpeter, &c.,to be thrown by the hand, or from mortars, to set fire to houses.

BALL

, n.[Gr.to toss or throw; to leap.] An entertainment of dancing; originally and peculiarly, at the invitation and expense of an individual; but the word is used in America, for a dance at the expense of the attendants.
19

BALL

,
Verb.
I.
To form into a ball, as snow on horses' hoofs, or on the feet. We say the horse balls, or the snow balls.

Definition 2024

Ball

Ball

See also: ball, bal, bál, bål, and Bäll

English

Proper noun

Ball

  1. A surname​.

German

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /bal/
  • Rhymes: -al

Etymology 1

From Old High German bal, from Proto-Germanic *balluz.

Noun

Ball m ‎(genitive Balls or Balles, plural Bälle, diminutive Bällchen n)

  1. ball (round or roundish object, most often used for games)
Usage notes

The German words Kugel and Ball are usually distinguished inasmuch as the former refers to solid balls (such as those used for billiards or bowling) while the latter refers to air-filled or elastic balls (such as tennis or soccer balls). This distinction may be neglected colloquially or jokingly.

Declension
Derived terms

Etymology 2

From French bal.

Noun

Ball m

  1. (dance) ball (social gathering for dancing), prom (US)
Synonyms
Derived terms

Luxembourgish

Etymology

From Old High German bal, from Proto-Germanic *balluz.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /bɑl/
  • Rhymes: -ɑl

Noun

Ball m ‎(plural Bäll)

  1. ball (round object for playing sports)

ball

ball

See also: bal, Ball, bál, bål, and Bäll

English

Noun

ball ‎(plural balls)

  1. A solid or hollow sphere, or part thereof.
    a ball of spittle;   a fecal ball‎
    1. A quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape.
      a ball of wool;   a ball of twine‎
    2. (ballistics) A solid, spherical nonexplosive missile for a cannon, etc.
      1. A jacketed non-expanding bullet, typically of military origin.
    3. A roundish protuberant portion of some part of the body.
      the ball of the thumb;   the ball of the foot‎
    4. (anatomy) The front of the bottom of the foot, just behind the toes.
    5. The globe; the earthly sphere.
    6. (mathematics) The set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance (the radius) of a given point; specifically, the homologue of the disk in a Euclidean space of any number of dimensions.
    7. (mathematics, more generally) The set of points in a topological space lying within some open set containing a given point; the analogue of the disk in a Euclidean space.
    8. An object, generally spherical, used for playing games.
      • 1922, Michael Arlen, chapter 3/19/2, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days:
        Ivor had acquired more than a mile of fishing rights with the house; he was not at all a good fisherman, but one must do something; one generally, however, banged a ball with a squash-racket against a wall.
      • 2011 October 2, Aled Williams, “Swansea 2-0 Stoke”, in BBC Sport Wales:
        Graham secured victory with five minutes left, coolly lifting the ball over Asmir Begovic.
  2. (sports) The use of a round or ellipsoidal object.
    1. Any simple game involving a ball.
      The children were playing ball on the beach.‎
      The children were playing ball in the garden.‎
    2. (baseball) A pitch that falls outside of the strike zone.
    3. (pinball) An opportunity to launch the pinball into play.
      If you get to a million points, you get another ball.‎
    4. (cricket) A single delivery by the bowler, six of which make up an over.
    5. (soccer) A pass; a kick of the football towards a teammate.
      • 2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1-0 Bolton”, in BBC:
        After Essien's poor attempt flew into the stands, Rodrigo Moreno - Bolton's on-loan winger from Benfica who was making his full Premier League debut - nearly exposed the Blues with a lovely ball for Johan Elmander, but it just skipped away from his team-mate's toes.
  3. (mildly vulgar, slang, chiefly in the plural) A testicle.
    1. Nonsense.
      That’s a load of balls, and you know it!‎
    2. Courage.
      I doubt he’s got the balls to tell him off.‎
  4. (printing, historical) A leather-covered cushion, fastened to a handle called a ballstock; formerly used by printers for inking the form, then superseded by the roller.
  5. (farriery, historical) A large pill, a form in which medicine was given to horses; a bolus.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of White to this entry?)
Synonyms
Derived terms

(solid or hollow sphere):

(testicle):

Translations
in plural - mildly vulgar slang - nonsense

Verb

ball ‎(third-person singular simple present balls, present participle balling, simple past and past participle balled)

  1. (transitive) To form or wind into a ball.
    to ball cotton
  2. (metalworking) To heat in a furnace and form into balls for rolling.
  3. (transitive, vulgar) To have sexual intercourse with.
  4. (transitive, intransitive) To gather balls which cling to the feet, as of damp snow or clay; to gather into balls.
    The horse balls; the snow balls.
  5. (slang, usually in present participle) To be hip or cool.
  6. (nonstandard, slang) To play basketball.
Synonyms
Translations

Interjection

ball

  1. (Australian rules football) An appeal by the crowd for holding the ball against a tackled player. This is heard almost any time an opposition player is tackled, without regard to whether the rules about "prior opportunity" to dispose of the ball are fulfilled.
    2007: A good tackle (and some bad ones) will bring a cry of "Ball!" from the crowd – a plea for a holding the ball free kick. — AFL Sydney Swans Rules Zone

Etymology 2

From French bal, from Late Latin ballare.

Noun

ball ‎(plural balls)

  1. A formal dance.
  2. (informal) A very enjoyable time.
    I had a ball at that concert.‎
Synonyms
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations

Catalan

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -aʎ

Noun

ball m ‎(plural balls)

  1. dance
  2. ball, formal dance

Synonyms

Related terms

Crimean Tatar

Etymology

Borrowing from French balle ‎(“ball”).

Noun

ball

  1. estimation, score

Declension

References

  • Mirjejev, V. A.; Usejinov, S. M. (2002) Ukrajinsʹko-krymsʹkotatarsʹkyj slovnyk [Ukrainian – Crimean Tatar Dictionary], Simferopol: Dolya, ISBN 966-7980-89-8

Icelandic

Noun

ball n ‎(genitive singular balls, nominative plural böll)

  1. dance

Irish

Etymology

From Old Irish ball, from Proto-Celtic *ballo-, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- ‎(“to blow, swell, inflate”); compare English ball, Greek φαλλός ‎(phallós, “****”).

Pronunciation

  • (Munster) IPA(key): [bˠaul̪ˠ]
  • (Connacht) IPA(key): [bˠɑːl̪ˠ] (Galway); IPA(key): [bˠal̪ˠ] (Mayo)
  • (Ulster) IPA(key): [bˠal̪ˠ]

Noun

ball m ‎(genitive singular baill, nominative plural baill)

  1. (anatomy) organ
  2. component part
  3. member
  4. article
  5. spot, place
  6. spot, mark
  7. (sets) element, member

Declension

Derived terms

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical Lenition Eclipsis
ball bhall mball
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every
possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

  • "ball" in Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla, An Gúm, 1977, by Niall Ó Dónaill.
  • “ball” in Dictionary of the Irish Language, Royal Irish Academy, 1913–76.

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology 1

From Old Norse bǫllr.

Noun

ball m ‎(definite singular ballen, indefinite plural baller, definite plural ballene)

  1. ball (solid or hollow sphere)
  2. ball (object, usually spherical, used for playing games)
Derived terms

Etymology 2

Borrowing from French bal.

Noun

ball n ‎(definite singular ballet, indefinite plural ball or baller, definite plural balla or ballene)

  1. ball (formal social occasion involving dancing)
Derived terms

References

  • “ball” in The Bokmål Dictionary / The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology 1

From Old Norse bǫllr.

Noun

ball m ‎(definite singular ballen, indefinite plural ballar, definite plural ballane)

  1. a ball (solid or hollow sphere)
  2. a ball (object, usually spherical, used for playing games)
Derived terms

Etymology 2

Borrowing from French bal.

Noun

ball n ‎(definite singular ballet, indefinite plural ball, definite plural balla)

  1. ball (formal social occasion involving dancing)
Derived terms

References

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Old Irish ball m ‎(“limb, member, organ; member of community; part, portion, piece; article, object; place, spot; passage (of a book); spot, mark, blemish”) (compare Irish ball), from Proto-Celtic *ballo-, from Proto-Indo-European *bhel- ‎(“to blow, swell, inflate”) (compare English ball, Ancient Greek φαλλός ‎(phallós, “****”)).

Noun

ball m ‎(genitive singular buill, plural buill)

  1. ball
  2. member (of a group)
  3. article, item
  4. (anatomy) organ; limb

Derived terms

Mutation

Scottish Gaelic mutation
Radical Lenition
ball bhall
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every
possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

  • Faclair Gàidhlig Dwelly Air Loidhne, Dwelly, Edward (1911), Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le Dealbhan/The Illustrated [Scottish] Gaelic-English Dictionary (10th ed.), Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited, ISBN 0 901771 92 9
  • “ball” in Dictionary of the Irish Language, Royal Irish Academy, 1913–76.

Swedish

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): ˈbalː

Adjective

ball

  1. (slang) cool, hip, fun, entertaining
    Det är ballt att åka skateboard.‎
    It’s cool to ride a skateboard.

Declension

Inflection of ball
Indefinite/attributive Positive Comparative Superlative2
Common singular ball ballare ballast
Neuter singular ballt ballare ballast
Plural balla ballare ballast
Definite Positive Comparative Superlative
Masculine singular1 balle ballare ballaste
All balla ballare ballaste
1) Only used, optionally, to refer to things whose natural gender is masculine.
2) The indefinite superlative forms are only used in an attributive role.

Etymology

From Middle English bal, ball, balle, from Old English *beall, *bealla ‎(“round object, ball”) or Old Norse bǫllr ‎(“a ball”) (whence the Icelandic böllur ‎(“scrotum; ****; a ball”)), both from Proto-Germanic *balluz, *ballô ‎(“ball”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰoln- ‎(“bubble”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- ‎(“to blow, inflate, swell”). Cognate with Old Saxon ball, Dutch bal, Old High German bal, ballo (German Ball ‎(“ball”); Ballen ‎(“bale”)). Related forms in Romance are borrowings from Germanic. See also balloon, bale.

A basketball

Pronunciation

Similar Results