ball
1 [bawl] Show IPA
noun
1.
a spherical or approximately spherical body or shape; sphere: He rolled the piece of paper into a ball.
2.
a round or roundish body, of various sizes and materials, either hollow or solid, for use in games, as baseball, football, tennis, or golf.
3.
a game played with a ball, especially baseball: The boys are out playing ball.
4.
Baseball. a pitched ball, not swung at by the batter, that does not pass over home plate between the batter's shoulders and knees.
5.
Military .
a.
a solid, usually spherical projectile for a cannon, rifle, pistol, etc., as distinguished from a shell.
b.
verb (used with object)
14.
to make into a ball (sometimes followed by up ): The children were balling up snow to make a snowman.
15.
to wind into balls: to ball cotton.
16.
Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse with.
verb (used without object)
Verb phrases
17.
to form or gather into a ball: When the spun sugar balls, the candy has cooked sufficiently.
18.
Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse.
19.
Idioms
ball up, Slang. to make or become utterly confused; muddle: The records had been all balled up by inefficient file clerks.
20.
ball the jack, Slang.
a.
to act with speed.
b.
to stake everything on one attempt.
21.
carry the ball, to assume the responsibility; bear the burden: You can always count on him to carry the ball in an emergency.
22.
drop the ball, to make a mistake or miss an opportunity at a critical moment.
23.
keep the ball rolling, to continue or give renewed vigor to an activity already under way: When their interest lagged, he tried to keep the ball rolling.
24.
on the ball,
a.
alert and efficient or effective: If you don't get on the ball, you'll be fired.
b.
indicating intelligence or ability: The tests show your students don't have much on the ball. The new manager has a lot on the ball
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