ball (balls plural & 3rd person present) (balling present participle) (balled past tense & past participle )
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 A ball is something or an amount of something that has a round shape.
oft N of n
Thomas screwed the letter up into a ball..., They heard a loud explosion and saw a ball of fire go up.
3 verb 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... V n adv/prep
His hands balled into fists... V adv/prep
4 n-count Theballof your foot or theballof your thumb is the rounded part where your toes join your foot or where your thumb joins your hand.
usu the N of n
5 n-count A ball is a large formal social event at which people dance.
6 n-count A man's balls are his testicles.
INFORMAL, RUDE usu pl
8 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 is in sb's court phrase V inflects
The ball's now in your court<endash>you have to decide what you're going to do.
9 If you get the ball rolling, set the ball rolling, or start the ball rolling, you start something happening.
get the ball rolling/set the ball rolling/start the ball rolling phrase V inflects
He will go to the Middle East next week to get the ball rolling again on peace talks...
10 If someone is on the ball, they are very alert and aware of what is happening.
on the ball phrase v-link PHR
She really is on the ball; she's bought houses at auctions so she knows what she's doing.
11 If someone refuses to play ball, they are unwilling to do what someone wants them to do. INFORMAL
play ball phrase V inflects The association has threatened to withdraw its support if the banks and building societies refuse to play ball.
ball bearing (ball bearings plural ), ball-bearing Ball bearings are small metal balls placed between the moving parts of a machine to make the parts move smoothly. n-count
ball boy (ball boys plural )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. n-count
ball game (ball games plural ), ballgame
1 n-count Ball games are games that are played with a ball such as tennis, baseball, and football.
usu pl
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. 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.
new ball game phrase
He finds himself faced with a whole new ball game.
ball girl (ball girls plural )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. n-count
beach ball (beach balls plural )A beach ball is a large, light ball filled with air, which people play with, especially on the beach. n-count
crystal ball (crystal balls plural )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. n-count
Local economists have looked into their crystal balls and seen something rather nasty...
golf ball (golf balls plural )A golf ball is a small, hard white ball which people use when they are playing golf. n-count
no-ball (no-balls plural )In cricket, a no-ball is a ball that is bowled in a way that is not allowed by the rules. It results in an extra run being given to the side that is batting. n-count
