ball


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Related to ball: Ball games

ball

a round body, as a baseball, tennis ball, etc.; a game played with a ball; a dance: after the ball was over
Not to be confused with:
bawl – to cry or wail; a loud shout, outcry; scold: Your mom will bawl you out for being late.
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree

ball 1

 (bôl)
n.
1.
a. A spherical object or entity: a steel ball.
b. A spherical or almost spherical body: a ball of flame.
2. Sports
a. Any of various movable and round or oblong objects used in various athletic activities and games.
b. Such an object moving, thrown, hit, or kicked in a particular manner: a low ball; a fair ball.
c. A game, especially baseball or basketball, played with such an object.
d. A pitched baseball that does not pass through the strike zone and is not swung at by the batter.
3.
a. A solid spherical or pointed projectile, such as one shot from a cannon.
b. Projectiles of this kind considered as a group.
4. A rounded part or protuberance, especially of the body: the ball of the foot.
5. Vulgar Slang
a. A testicle.
b. balls Courage, especially when reckless.
c. balls Great presumptuousness.
v. balled, ball·ing, balls
v.tr.
1. To form into a ball.
2. Vulgar Slang To have sexual intercourse with.
v.intr.
1. To become formed into a ball.
2. Vulgar Slang To have sexual intercourse.
Phrasal Verb:
ball up
To confuse; bungle.
Idioms:
have(someone) by the balls Vulgar Slang
To have control over someone; have someone at one's mercy.
on the ball Informal
1. Alert, competent, or efficient: a teacher who is really on the ball.
2. Relating to qualities, such as competence, skill, or knowledge, that are necessary for success: a manager who has a lot on the ball; a student who has nothing on the ball.

[Middle English bal, probably from Old English *beall; see bhel- in Indo-European roots.]

ball 2

 (bôl)
n.
1. A formal gathering for social dancing.
2. Informal An extremely enjoyable time or experience: We had a ball during our vacation.

[French bal, from Old French, from baller, to dance, from Late Latin ballāre, from Greek ballizein; see gwelə- in Indo-European roots.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ball

(bɔːl)
n
1. a spherical or nearly spherical body or mass: a ball of wool.
2. (Ball Games, other than specified) a round or roundish body, either solid or hollow, of a size and composition suitable for any of various games: football, golf, billiards, etc
3. (Ball Games, other than specified) a ball propelled in a particular way in a sport: a high ball.
4. (Ball Games, other than specified) any of various rudimentary games with a ball: to play ball.
5. (Cricket) cricket a single delivery of the ball by the bowler to the batsman
6. (Baseball) baseball a single delivery of the ball by a pitcher outside certain limits and not swung at by the batter
7. (Firearms, Gunnery, Ordnance & Artillery)
a. a solid nonexplosive projectile for a firearm. Compare shell6
b. such projectiles collectively
8. any more or less rounded part or protuberance: the ball of the foot.
9. (Anatomy) slang a testicle. See balls
10. vet science another word for bolus
11. (Dyeing) vet science another word for bolus
12. (Pharmacology) vet science another word for bolus
13. (Horticulture) horticulture the hard mass of roots and earth removed with the rest of the plant during transplanting
14. ball of muscle Austral a very strong, fit, or forceful person
15. have the ball at one's feet to have the chance of doing something
16. keep the ball rolling to maintain the progress of a project, plan, etc
17. on the ball informal alert; informed
18. play ball informal to cooperate
19. set the ball rolling start the ball rolling to open or initiate (an action, discussion, movement, etc)
20. the ball is in your court you are obliged to make the next move
vb
21. (tr) to make, form, wind, etc, into a ball or balls: to ball wool.
22. (intr) to gather into a ball or balls
23. taboo slang chiefly US to copulate (with)
[C13: from Old Norse böllr; related to Old High German balla, Italian palla French balle]
Usage: Sense 9 of this word was formerly considered to be taboo, and it was labelled as such in older editions of Collins English Dictionary. However, it has now become acceptable in speech, although some older or more conservative people may object to its use

ball

(bɔːl)
n
1. a social function for dancing, esp one that is lavish or formal
2. informal a very enjoyable time (esp in the phrase have a ball)
[C17: from French bal (n), from Old French baller (vb), from Late Latin ballāre to dance, from Greek ballizein]

Ball

(bɔːl)
n
(Biography) John. died 1381, English priest: executed as one of the leaders of the Peasants' Revolt (1381)
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ball1

(bɔl)
n.
1. a spherical or approximately spherical body; sphere.
2. a round or roundish body, of various sizes and materials, either hollow or solid, for use in games, as baseball, football, or golf.
3. a game played with a ball, esp. baseball or softball.
4. a pitched ball in baseball that is not swung at by the batter and does not pass through the strike zone.
5.
a. a solid, spherical projectile for a weapon.
b. projectiles collectively.
6. a part, esp. of the human body, that is rounded or protuberant: the ball of the thumb.
7. Vulgar Slang. a testicle.
8. balls, Slang: Usu. Vulgar.
a. boldness; courage.
b. nonsense (often used as an interjection).
9. a planetary or celestial body, esp. the earth.
v.t.
10. to make into a ball or balls.
11. Vulgar Slang. to have sexual intercourse with.
v.i.
12. to form or gather into a ball.
13. Vulgar Slang. to have sexual intercourse.
14. ball up, to make into a mess; confuse.
Idioms:
1. carry the ball, to assume the responsibility; bear the burden.
2. get or start (or keep) the ball rolling, to initiate (or continue) an activity.
3. on the ball,
a. alert or vital: to be on the ball.
b. into a state of alertness and efficiency: to get on the ball.
c. indicating intelligence and ability: to have a lot on the ball.
4. play ball, to work together; cooperate.
[1175–1225; < Old French < Germanic *ballaz; compare Old High German bal, Old Norse bǫllr]
ball′er, n.

ball2

(bɔl)

n.
1. a large, usu. lavish, formal party featuring social dancing, sometimes given to introduce debutantes or benefit a charitable organization.
2. Informal. a thoroughly good time.
[1625–35; < French bal, n. derivative of bal(l)er to dance < Late Latin ballāre < Greek ballízein]

Ball

(bɔl)

n.
1. John, died 1381, English priest: one of the leaders of Wat Tyler's peasants' revolt in 1381.
2. Lucille, 1911–89, U.S. actress.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

ball

, socket - On a clothing snap, there is a ball and a socket.
See also related terms for socket.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ball

 a round or roundish body or mass. See also clew, globe, orb.
Examples: balls [‘rings’] of cowslips, daisies, 1648; of fire; of nutmegs, 1583; of rosemary [750 Ibs], 1796; of twine, 1841; of wool, 1884; of yarn, 1572; of live crabs, 1875.
Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

ball


Past participle: balled
Gerund: balling

Imperative
ball
ball
Present
I ball
you ball
he/she/it balls
we ball
you ball
they ball
Preterite
I balled
you balled
he/she/it balled
we balled
you balled
they balled
Present Continuous
I am balling
you are balling
he/she/it is balling
we are balling
you are balling
they are balling
Present Perfect
I have balled
you have balled
he/she/it has balled
we have balled
you have balled
they have balled
Past Continuous
I was balling
you were balling
he/she/it was balling
we were balling
you were balling
they were balling
Past Perfect
I had balled
you had balled
he/she/it had balled
we had balled
you had balled
they had balled
Future
I will ball
you will ball
he/she/it will ball
we will ball
you will ball
they will ball
Future Perfect
I will have balled
you will have balled
he/she/it will have balled
we will have balled
you will have balled
they will have balled
Future Continuous
I will be balling
you will be balling
he/she/it will be balling
we will be balling
you will be balling
they will be balling
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been balling
you have been balling
he/she/it has been balling
we have been balling
you have been balling
they have been balling
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been balling
you will have been balling
he/she/it will have been balling
we will have been balling
you will have been balling
they will have been balling
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been balling
you had been balling
he/she/it had been balling
we had been balling
you had been balling
they had been balling
Conditional
I would ball
you would ball
he/she/it would ball
we would ball
you would ball
they would ball
Past Conditional
I would have balled
you would have balled
he/she/it would have balled
we would have balled
you would have balled
they would have balled
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

ball

A pitch outside the strike zone that is not struck at by the batter.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.ball - round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in gamesball - round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games; "the ball travelled 90 mph on his serve"; "the mayor threw out the first ball"; "the ball rolled into the corner pocket"
baseball - a ball used in playing baseball
basketball - an inflated ball used in playing basketball
billiard ball - ball used in playing billiards
bocce ball, bocci ball, boccie ball - wooden ball that is bowled in the Italian game of bocce
bowl - a wooden ball (with flattened sides so that it rolls on a curved course) used in the game of lawn bowling
bowling ball, bowl - a large ball with finger holes used in the sport of bowling
cricket ball - the ball used in playing cricket
croquet ball - a wooden ball used in playing croquet
field hockey ball - ball used in playing field hockey
football - the inflated oblong ball used in playing American football
game equipment - equipment or apparatus used in playing a game
golf ball - a small hard ball used in playing golf; dimpled to reduce wind resistance
handball - a small rubber ball used in playing the game of handball
jack - a small ball at which players aim in lawn bowling
lacrosse ball - ball used in playing lacrosse
marble - a small ball of glass that is used in various games
medicine ball - heavy ball used in physical training
ninepin ball, skittle ball - ball used to knock down ninepins
ping-pong ball - light hollow ball used in playing table tennis
polo ball - wooden ball that is struck with mallets in playing polo
pool ball - ball used in playing pool
punch bag, punchball, punching ball, punching bag - an inflated ball or bag that is suspended and punched for training in boxing
racquetball - the ball used in playing the game of racquetball
roulette ball - the ball used to play roulette
rugby ball - inflated oval ball used in playing rugby
soccer ball - an inflated ball used in playing soccer
playground ball, softball - ball used in playing softball
squash ball - rubber ball used in playing squash
tennis ball - ball about the size of a fist used in playing tennis
volleyball - an inflated ball used in playing volleyball
Wiffle, Wiffle Ball - (trademark) a hollow plastic ball with cutouts
2.ball - a solid projectile that is shot by a musketball - a solid projectile that is shot by a musket; "they had to carry a ramrod as well as powder and ball"
pellet, shot - a solid missile discharged from a firearm; "the shot buzzed past his ear"
3.ball - an object with a spherical shapeball - an object with a spherical shape; "a ball of fire"
crystal ball - a glass or crystal globe used in crystal gazing by fortunetellers
camphor ball, mothball - a small sphere of camphor or naphthalene used to keep moths away from stored clothing
time-ball - a ball that slides down a staff to show a fixed time; especially at an observatory
fireball - the luminous center of a nuclear explosion
fireball - a ball of fire (such as the sun or a ball-shaped discharge of lightning)
globule - a small globe or ball
sphere - a solid figure bounded by a spherical surface (including the space it encloses)
spherule - a small sphere
pellet - a small sphere
bolus - a small round soft mass (as of chewed food)
4.ball - the people assembled at a lavish formal danceball - the people assembled at a lavish formal dance; "the ball was already emptying out before the fire alarm sounded"
promenade - a march of all the guests at the opening of a formal dance
dance - a party of people assembled for dancing
5.ball - one of the two male reproductive glands that produce spermatozoa and secrete androgensball - one of the two male reproductive glands that produce spermatozoa and secrete androgens; "she kicked him in the balls and got away"
arteria testicularis, internal spermatic artery, testicular artery - a branch of the aorta supplying the testicles
testicular vein, vena testicularis - a vein from the testicles
male reproductive system - the reproductive system of males
seminiferous tubule - any of the numerous long convoluted tubules in the testis which are the sites where spermatozoa mature
gonad, sex gland - a gland in which gametes (sex cells) are produced
cobblers - a man's testicles (from Cockney rhyming slang: cobbler's awl rhymes with ball)
male reproductive gland - the reproductive organs of a man
undescended testicle, undescended testis - a testis that fails to move into the scrotum as the male fetus develops; "undescended testicles have an increased risk for cancer"
epididymis - a convoluted tubule in each testis; carries sperm to vas deferens
rete testis - network of tubules carrying sperm from the seminiferous tubules to the vasa efferentia
ductus deferens, vas deferens - a duct that carries spermatozoa from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct
spermatic cord - a structure resembling a cord that suspends the testis within the scrotum and contains the vas deferens and other vessels and nerves
6.ball - a spherical object used as a playthingball - a spherical object used as a plaything; "he played with his rubber ball in the bathtub"
beach ball, beachball - large and light ball; for play at the seaside
plaything, toy - an artifact designed to be played with
snowball - snow pressed into a ball for throwing (playfully)
7.ball - United States comedienne best known as the star of a popular television program (1911-1989)Ball - United States comedienne best known as the star of a popular television program (1911-1989)
8.ball - a compact massball - a compact mass; "a ball of mud caught him on the shoulder"
clot, coagulum - a lump of material formed from the content of a liquid
agglomeration - a jumbled collection or mass
gob - a lump of slimy stuff; "a gob of phlegm"
clew - a ball of yarn or cord or thread
9.ball - a lavish dance requiring formal attireball - a lavish dance requiring formal attire
dance - a party for social dancing
cotilion, cotillion - a ball at which young ladies are presented to society
fancy-dress ball, masked ball, masquerade ball - a ball at which guests wear costumes and masks
prom, promenade - a formal ball held for a school class toward the end of the academic year
10.ball - a more or less rounded anatomical body or massball - a more or less rounded anatomical body or mass; "the ball at the base of the thumb"; "he stood on the balls of his feet"
anatomical structure, bodily structure, body structure, complex body part, structure - a particular complex anatomical part of a living thing; "he has good bone structure"
hand, manus, mitt, paw - the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb; "he had the hands of a surgeon"; "he extended his mitt"
sole - the underside of the foot
11.ball - the game of baseballball - the game of baseball      
daisy cutter - a batted or served ball that skims along close to the ground
baseball, baseball game - a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs; "he played baseball in high school"; "there was a baseball game on every empty lot"; "there was a desire for National League ball in the area"; "play ball!"
12.ball - a pitch that is not in the strike zoneball - a pitch that is not in the strike zone; "he threw nine straight balls before the manager yanked him"
pitch, delivery - (baseball) the act of throwing a baseball by a pitcher to a batter
Verb1.ball - form into a ball by winding or rolling; "ball wool"
twine, wrap, wind, roll - arrange or or coil around; "roll your hair around your finger"; "Twine the thread around the spool"; "She wrapped her arms around the child"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

ball

1
noun
1. sphere, drop, globe, pellet, orb, globule, spheroid a golf ball He screwed the letter up into a ball.
2. projectile, shot, missile, bullet, ammunition, slug, pellet, grapeshot A cannon ball struck the ship

ball

2
noun dance, social, hop (informal), disco, knees-up (Brit. informal), discotheque, dancing party You're going to a ball dressed like that?
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

ball

noun
A party or gathering for dancing:
Informal: hop.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
الخِصيتان، بيضتا الرَّجُلحَفْلَةٌ راقِصَةحَقْلة راقِصَهكُرَةكُرة القَدَمأو السَّلّه
кълбосфератопкатопки
míčplesbálklubkokoule
boldbalkuglenossertestikler
balobulopilko
ballpall
pallotanssiaisetkeräkuulalankakerä
ballopta
golyógombolyaglabda
bola
boltibolti, kúladansleikur, ballkjarkur
ボール舞踏会
무도회
pila
kiaušas
ballebumbadeju vakarskamolslode
plesbálguleklbkolopta
plesžogajajcaklobčičkrogla
balloptaples
balballebollklotkula
งานบอลลูกบอล
buổi khiêu vũquả bóng

ball

1 [bɔːl]
A. N
1. (Tennis, Cricket, Golf etc) → pelota f (Ftbl) → balón m; (= sphere) → bola f
to play ball (with sb) (lit) → jugar a la pelota (con algn) (fig) → cooperar (con algn)
to roll (o.s.) up into a ballhacerse un ovillo
the ball is with you or in your court (fig) → te corresponde a ti dar el siguiente paso
that's the way the ball bounces (US) → así es la vida, así son las cosas
the whole ball of wax (US) (fig) → toda la historia
to be behind the eight ball (US) → estar en apuros
to be on the ballestar al tanto, ser muy despabilado
you have to be on the ball for thispara esto hay que estar al tanto
to have a lot on the ball (US) → tener mucho talento
to keep one's eye on the ballno perder de vista lo principal
to start/keep the ball rollingponer/mantener la cosa en marcha
to be a ball of fire he's a real ball of firees muy dinámico
he's not exactly a ball of fireno es que sea muy dinámico que digamos
to keep several balls in the airhacer varias cosas al mismo tiempo
to pick up or take the ball and run with ittomar el testigo e intentarlo
2. (Mil) → bala f
ball and chain (lit) → grillete m con bola (fig) → atadura f
3. [of wool] → ovillo m
4. (Anat) [of foot] → pulpejo m; [of thumb] → base f
5. (= testicle) → cojón m, huevo m
6. balls (Brit) (= nonsense) → pavadas fpl, huevadas fpl (Andes, Chile) ; (= courage) → cojones mpl, pelotas fpl
to break or bust sb's ballsjoder la existencia a algn
B. VT
1. (also ball up) [+ handkerchief etc] → hacer una bola con
2. (esp US) (= have sex with) → echarse un polvo con, tirarse
C. VI
1. (also ball up) [fist etc] → hacerse una bola
2. (esp US) (= have sex) → echarse un polvo, follar (Sp) , chingar (Mex)
D. CPD ball and socket joint Njunta f articulada
ball bearing Ncojinete m de bolas, balero m (Mex), rulemán m (S. Cone)
ball boy N (Tennis) → recogedor m de pelotas
ball control N (Ftbl) → dominio m del balón
ball game N (US) → partido m de béisbol
this is a different ball game (fig) → esto es otro cantar, esto es algo muy distinto
it's a whole new ball game (fig) → las cosas han cambiado totalmente BASEBALL ball girl N (Tennis) → recogedora f de pelotas
ball joint Njunta f articulada
ball lightning N (Met) → relámpago m en bola or en globo
ball up
A. VT + ADV
1. = ball B
2. (US) = balls up
B. VI + ADV = ball C
balls up VT + ADVestropear, joder

ball

2 [bɔːl] N
1. (= dance) → baile m de etiqueta
2. (= good time) we had a balllo pasamos en grande
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

ball

[ˈbɔːl]
n
(= spherical shape, object) → boule f; [string, wool] → pelote f
The cat was curled up in a ball → Le chat était roulé en boule.
a ball of fire → une boule de feu
(SPORT) (for tennis, golf, cricket, hockey, baseball)balle f; (for football, rugby, basketball, volleyball, handball)ballon m
to play ball (lit)jouer au ballon (fig) (= cooperate) → coopérer
to play ball with sb (lit)jouer au ballon avec qn (fig) (= cooperate) → coopérer avec qn
to be on the ball (= alert) → être éveillé(e), être vif(vive) (= competent) → être efficace
to get the ball rolling, to start the ball rolling, to set the ball rolling (= get things going) → commencer
to get the ball rolling on sth → entamer qch
He went to the Middle East to get the ball rolling on peace talks → Il est allé au Moyen-Orient pour entamer des pourparlers de paix.
the ball is in their court → la balle est dans leur camp
to keep several balls in the air → jongler avec beaucoup de choses golf ball, tennis ball
(= shot, pass) a good ball → un bon ballon
a poor ball → un mauvais ballon
a beautiful ball → un beau ballon
(= dance) → bal m
the ball of the foot → la plante du pied
(= good time) to have a ball [person] → s'amuser comme un fou; [group of people] → s'amuser comme des fous
vt (also ball up) → bouchonner
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

ball

:
ball bearing
nKugellager nt; (= ball)Kugellagerkugel f
ball boy
n (Tennis) → Balljunge m
ball cock
nSchwimmerhahn m
ball control
nBallführung f

ball

:
ball game
nBallspiel nt; it’s a whole new/different ball (fig inf)das ist eine ganz andere Chose (inf)
ball girl
n (Tennis) → Ballmädchen nt

ball

:
ball joint
n (Tech) → Kugelgelenk nt
ball loss
n (Sport) → Ballverlust m

ball

:
ballpark
n
(US) → Baseballstadion nt
ball figureRichtzahl f; in the ballin dieser Größenordnung; am I in the right ball?bewege ich mich in der richtigen Größenordnung?
ballplayer
n (US) → Baseballspieler(in) m(f)
ballpoint (pen)
ballroom
nBall- or Tanzsaal m
ballroom dancing

ball

1
n
Ball m; (= sphere)Kugel f; (of wool, string)Knäuel m; the cat lay curled up in a balldie Katze hatte sich zusammengerollt; ball and chainFußfessel f(mit Gewicht)
(Sport) → Ball m; (Billiards, Croquet) → Kugel f
(= delivery of a ball)Ball m; (Tennis, Golf) → Schlag m; (Ftbl, Hockey) → Schuss m; (Cricket) → Wurf m; the backs were giving their strikers a lot of good ball(s)die Verteidiger spielten den Stürmern gute Bälle zu; no ball (Cricket) → falsch ausgeführter Wurf
(= game)Ball m; (US: = baseball) → Baseball nt; to play ballBall/Baseball spielen
(fig phrases) to keep the ball rollingdas Gespräch in Gang halten; to start or set or get the ball rollingden Stein ins Rollen bringen; to have the ball at one’s feetseine große Chance haben; the ball is in your courtSie sind am Ball (inf); that puts the ball back in his courtdamit ist er wieder am Ball; to be on the ball (inf)am Ball sein (inf), → auf Zack or Draht sein (inf); to keep several balls in the airmehrere Eisen im Feuer haben; to run with the ball (US inf) → die Sache mit Volldampf vorantreiben (inf) ? play N b VT a
(Anat) ball of the foot/thumbFuß-/Handballen m
(sl) (= testicle)Ei nt usu pl (sl); (pl) → Eier pl (sl), → Sack m (vulg); balls! (= nonsense)red keinen Scheiß (inf); balls to himder kann mich am Arsch lecken (vulg); balls to the regulationsich scheiß doch auf die Bestimmungen (sl); balls (inf: = courage) → Schneid m (inf), → Mumm m (inf); he’s got us by the balls (sl)er hat uns in der Zange (inf)
(old, for gun) → Kugel f ? cannonball
(Cook, of meat, fish) → Klößchen nt, → Klops m
vti (dated US vulg) → ficken (vulg)

ball

2
n
(= dance)Ball m
(inf: = good time) → Spaß m; to have a ballsich prima amüsieren (inf)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

ball

1 [bɔːl] n (gen) → palla; (inflated) (Ftbl) → pallone m; (for golf) → pallina; (of wool, string) → gomitolo
a glass ball → un globo di vetro
he rolled the paper into a ball → ha appallottolato la carta
the ball of the foot → la punta del piede
the ball of the thumb → il polpastrello del pollice
to be on the ball (fig) (competent) → essere in gamba (alert) → stare all'erta
to play ball (with sb) (fig) → stare al gioco (di qn)
to start the ball rolling (fig) → fare la prima mossa
to keep the ball rolling (fig) → mandare avanti le cose
the ball is in your court (fig) → tocca a te

ball

2 [bɔːl] n (dance) → ballo
to have a ball (fig) (fam) → divertirsi da matti
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

ball1

(boːl) noun
1. anything roughly round in shape. a ball of wool.
2. a round object used in games. a tennis ball.
3. balls (plural) (slang) testicles.
ˌball-ˈbearings noun plural
in machinery etc, small steel balls that help the revolving of one part over another.
ˈballcock noun
a valve in a cistern.
ˈballpoint noun
a pen having a tiny ball as the writing point.
adjective
a ballpoint pen.
on the ball
quick, alert and up-to-date. The new manager is really on the ball.
start/set, keep the ball rolling
to start or keep something going, especially a conversation. He can be relied on to start the ball rolling at parties.

ball2

(boːl) noun
a formal dance. a ball at the palace.
ˈballroom noun
a large room for a formal dance.
adjective
ballroom dancing.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

ball

حَفْلَةٌ راقِصَة, كُرَة míč, ples bal, bold Ball μπάλα, χορός baile, pelota pallo, tanssiaiset bal, balle bal, lopta ballo, palla ボール, 舞踏会, 무도회 bal ball bal, piłka baile, bola бал, мяч bal, boll งานบอล, ลูกบอล balo, top buổi khiêu vũ, quả bóng , 舞会
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

ball

n. bola; asiento del pie;
___ forcepspinzas sacabalas;
___ of the footantepié.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

ball

n pelota, balón m; (of cotton) torunda; (fam o vulg, testicle) testículo, huevo (esp. Mex, fam or vulg)
English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
References in classic literature ?
Well, the match is for the best of three goals; whichever side kicks two goals wins: and it won't do, you see, just to kick the ball through these posts--it must go over the cross-bar; any height'll do, so long as it's between the posts.
"Next week, and a splendid ball. One of those balls where one always enjoys oneself."
Now she had a golden ball in her hand, which was her favourite plaything; and she was always tossing it up into the air, and catching it again as it fell.
Julius Beaufort, on the night of her annual ball, never failed to appear at the Opera; indeed, she always gave her ball on an Opera night in order to emphasise her complete superiority to household cares, and her possession of a staff of servants competent to organise every detail of the entertainment in her absence.
There were no spectators of our contest except now and again some loiterer in the Gardens who little thought what was the stake for which we played, but cannot we conceive Barbara standing at the ropes and agitatedly cutting down the daisies every time David missed the ball? I tell you, this was the historic match of the Gardens.
Bingley and his sisters came to give their personal invitation for the long-expected ball at Netherfield, which was fixed for the following Tuesday.
One thing only was wanting to make the prospect of the ball completely satisfactory to Emmaits being fixed for a day within the granted term of Frank Churchill's stay in Surry; for, in spite of Mr.
At two o'clock the tennis balls began, according to Grimaud's directions, to take the direction of the moat, much to the joy of La Ramee, who marked fifteen whenever the duke sent a ball into the moat; and very soon balls were wanting, so many had gone over.
If they were at home to grace the ball, a ball you would have this very Christmas.
She wore the sea- green silk which had been brought out from England a year before and worn but once--at the Christmas ball at Government House.
From the deafening sounds of his own guns around him, the whistle and thud of the enemy's cannon balls, from the flushed and perspiring faces of the crew bustling round the guns, from the sight of the blood of men and horses, from the little puffs of smoke on the enemy's side (always followed by a ball flying past and striking the earth, a man, a gun, a horse), from the sight of all these things a fantastic world of his own had taken possession of his brain and at that moment afforded him pleasure.
I shall quietly prepare for our departure, and own what I have done at the right time--that is to say, when the ball is over."