Topic: LEISURE
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Sense: 1-7, 10-17
| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Language: | Old Norse |
| Origin: | böllr |
| Date: | 1600-1700 |
| Language: | French |
| Origin: | bal, from Old French baller 'to dance', from Late Latin ballare, from Greek ballizein |
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ball1 S1 W2
1 a round object that is thrown, kicked, or hit in a game or sport
round object
DS [countable]2 something formed or rolled into a round shape : a ball of string Shape the dough into balls.
round shape
CF [countable]a ball of stringShape the dough into balls.3 any game or sport played with a ball, especially baseball or basketball : Dad likes college ball.
game/sport
[uncountable]Dad likes college ball.4 the rounded part of the foot at the base of the toes, or the rounded part of the hand at the base of the thumb
foot/hand
the ball of the foot/hand
5 able to think or act quickly and intelligently : an assistant who's really on the ball
on the ball
informalan assistant who's really on the ball6 to start something happening : To start the ball rolling, the government was asked to contribute £1 million.
set/start/keep the ball rolling
To start the ball rolling, the government was asked to contribute £1 million.7 it is their turn to take action or to reply : I've emailed him - now the ball's in his court.
the ball is in somebody's court
I've emailed him - now the ball's in his court.8 a large formal occasion at which people dance
formal occasion
DL [countable]10
balls
[plural] informal not politea) testicles
b) courage :
• I didn't have the balls to ask.
c) British English spoken something that is stupid or wrong [= nonsense]:
• That's a load of balls!
11 a ball that is thrown, hit, or kicked fast etc in a game or sport : He hit a long ball to right field.
a fast/good/long etc ball
DSHe hit a long ball to right field.12 a ball that is thrown too high, low etc towards someone trying to hit it, in the games of cricket or rounders
cricket
no ball
DS13 a ball that the hitter does not try to hit, because it is not within the correct area
baseball
DSB [countable]16
ball-buster/ball-breaker
informala) a problem that is very difficult to deal with
b) an offensive word for a woman who uses her authority over men
17 to struggle to deal with more than one problem or job at the same time : The company just won't be able to keep that many balls in the air.
keep several/too many etc balls in the air
The company just won't be able to keep that many balls in the air. ➔ cannonball, crystal ball, wrecking ball
