ball

plural balls

1. countableuncountableA solid or hollow sphere, or roughly spherical mass.

   a ball of spittle; a fecal ball

   1. countableuncountableA quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape.

      a ball of wool; a ball of twine

   2. countableuncountablecookingA food preparation formed into a spherical shape.

      This dish is served with balls of potato.

2. Homologue or analogue of a disk in the Euclidean plane.
   1. countableuncountablemathematicsIn 3-dimensional Euclidean space, the volume bounded by a sphere.
   2. countableuncountablemathematicsThe set of points in a metric space of any number of dimensions lying within a given distance (the radius) of a given point.
   3. countableuncountablemathematicsThe set of points in a topological space lying within some open set containing a given point.
3. A solid, spherical nonexplosive missile for a cannon, rifle, gun, etc.
   1. countableuncountableballisticsA jacketed non-expanding bullet, typically of military origin.
   2. obsoleteuncountableballisticsSuch bullets collectively.

      […] the Good Old Cause, which, as they seemed to represent it, smelt of Gunpowder and ball […]

      1659, Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey, England’s Confusion, London, page 7

      3 more examples

      I gave each of them a Musket with a Firelock on it, and about eight Charges of Powder and Ball, charging them to be very good Husbands of both, and not to use either of them but upon urgent Occasion.

      1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC, page 294

      […] some headstrong Maroons were using a soldier of Captain Craskell’s ill, and compelling him to write to his commander, that it was too late to do any thing good, and that they wanted nothing, having got plenty of powder and ball […]

      1803, Robert Charles Dallas, The History of the Maroons, London: Longman and Rees, Volume 1, Letter 5, p. 148

      This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship.

      1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 1, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 1

4. countableuncountableA roundish, protuberant portion of some part of the body.

   the ball of the thumb

   1. countableuncountableanatomyThe front of the bottom of the foot, just behind the toes.
5. countableuncountableThe globe; the earthly sphere.

   c. 1712', Joseph Addison, Ode to the Creator of the World What, though in solemn Silence, all / Move round the dark terrestrial Ball!

   1 more example

   Thus, if eternal Justice rules the ball, / Thus shall your wives, and thus your children fall;

   1717, Alexander Pope, Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady

6. countablehobbiesAn object that is the focus of many sports and games, in which it may be thrown, caught, kicked, bounced, rolled, chased, retrieved, hit with an instrument, spun, etc., usually roughly spherical or ovoid but whose size, weight, bounciness, colour, etc. differ according to the game

   Graham secured victory with five minutes left, coolly lifting the ball over Asmir Begovic.

   2011 October 2, Aled Williams, “Swansea 2-0 Stoke”, in BBC Sport Wales

   1 more example

   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.

   1922, Michael Arlen, “3/19/2”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days

   1. uncountablehobbiesAny sport or game involving a ball; its play, literally or figuratively.

      George played his college ball at Stanford.

      1 more example

      The children were playing ball on the beach.

   2. countableball gamesA pitch that falls outside of the strike zone.
   3. countablepinballhobbiesAn opportunity to launch the pinball into play.

      If you get to a million points, you get another ball.

   4. countableball gamesA single delivery by the bowler, six of which make up an over.
   5. countablehobbiesa kick (or hit in e.g. field hockey) of the ball towards where one or more teammates is expected to be. (Distinguished from a pass by a longer distance travelled or less specific target point.)

      Mark Wright sent a speculative ball for me to chase after and I found myself leaving Tony Adams in my wake, with only Seaman to beat.

      2019, Robbie Fowler, My Life In Football: Goals, Glory & The Lessons I've Learnt, Kings Road Publishing, →ISBN

      2 more examples

      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.

      2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1-0 Bolton”, in BBC

      Shetland increased the lead in the 22nd minute when Kirkness shot first time from a ball that was fired into the area from outside the 25-metre line.

      2014 October 21, Jim Tait, “Hockey girls through to next round”, in Shetland Times, archived from the original on 15 Jul 2024

   6. countablerhythmic gymnasticshobbiesAn apparatus.
   7. countablemetonymicallyuncountablerhythmic gymnasticshobbiesAn apparatus program with a ball.
7. countablemildlyplural normallyslanguncountablevulgarA testicle.

   Hitler has only got one ball, / Göring has two but very small, / Himmler is rather sim'lar, / But poor old Goebbels has no balls at all.

   c. 1939, anonymous author, “Hitler Has Only Got One Ball”

   1. countablein pluralmildlyplural normallyslanguncountablevulgarNonsense.

      That’s a load of balls, and you know it!

      Synonyms: nonsense

   2. countablein pluralmildlyplural normallyslanguncountablevulgarCourage.

      I doubt he’s got the balls to tell you off.

      Synonyms: chutzpah, guts, nerve

8. countablehistoricaluncountablemediaA leather-covered cushion, fastened to a handle called a ballstock; formerly used by printers for inking the form, then superseded by the roller.
9. countablehistoricaluncountablefarrieryA large pill, a form in which medicine was given to horses; a bolus.

   The laxative alterative has not this advantage, the aloes, of which it is composed, being extremely bitter, and therefore requiring to be given in the form of a ball.

   1842, James White, A compendium of the veterinary art

10. countablesingularsingular onlyslanguncountableOne thousand US dollars.

    Dropped a twenty ball in Gallery Department

    2022 November 25, “Gallery” (track 6), in OhGeesy (lyrics), GEEZYWORLD 2

    3 more examples

    I'ma let these niggas have it, go on stage and throw a forty ball

    2022 July 22, “Convict Life (Wanna Be Alone)”, YoungBoy Never Broke Again (lyrics)

    Forty ball all in these leather jeans Diamonds studs, I make a bum nigga think twice

    2022 September 16, “Hands on the Floor” (track 4, 0:40 from the start), in Su'Lan (lyrics), Forever Da Gang

    Forty ball on my wrist, nigga, I cashed out on it (Damn) Forty bands on my neck, nigga, I maxed out on it (Damn)

    2022 November 23, “10PM in ATL” (track 2), in GoldenBoy Countup (lyrics), Chill

present singular third person balls · participle present balling · participle past balled · past balled

1. transitiveTo form or wind into a ball.

   to ball cotton

   1 more example

   She balled her fists.

   Synonyms: roll up, wad

2. artsTo heat in a furnace and form into balls for rolling.
3. USintransitivetransitivevulgarTo have sexual intercourse (with).

   Max says it works both ways. “I mean if she comes in and tells me she wants to ball Don, maybe, I say ‘O.K., baby, it's your trip.’”

   1968, Joan Didion, “Slouching Towards Bethlehem”, in Slouching Towards Bethlehem

   1 more example

   Jefferson Fuck Poland wrote of three other anti-free-sex influences: […]heroin use (“Junkies rarely ball, unless for cash to buy junk. Heroin provides an orgasmic feeling of its own while suppressing sexual desire”); […].

   1991, Timothy Miller, quoting Jefferson Poland, The hippies and American values, University of Tennessee Press, →ISBN, page 69

   Synonyms: Formal terms, bed, coit, coitize, dight, enjoy, feague, go in unto

4. ambitransitiveTo gather balls which cling to the feet or skis, as of damp snow or clay; to gather into balls.

   the snow balls

   1 more example

   the horse balls

5. participlepresentregionalslangTo be hip or cool.
6. university slangTo reject from a fraternity or sorority. (Ellipsis of blackball).

   All of these things are done by pledges in hopes of not getting 'balled' or kicked out.

   2019 November 25, Annie Martin, “UCF frat suspended after report of pledges being forced to smoke marijuana, drink 'entire bottles' of alcohol”, in Orlando Sentinel

   1 more example

   This highlights the issue of toxic masculinity in fraternities: a pledge only becomes a man, or a brother, by enduring as much abuse as he can and by proving his competence with girls. If he cannot, he is not only "balled" but seen as a "faggot" (this is a term directly from the work).

   2018 July 12, “'I Thought Frats Were Like Their Movies, and They Totally Are': A Review of 'Alpha Class'”, in College Media Network

7. slangTo play basketball.

   fuck it, we ball

8. Internet(slang) Used to indicate general perseverance.
9. African-American VernacularTo spend money extravagantly.
10. transitiveTo punish by affixing a ball and chain.

    any man refusing to do police duty will be punished by the sergts by balling him the rest of the day.

    1865, Camp Sumpter, Andersonville National Historic Site, Rules and Regulations of the Prison

11. transitiveOf bees: to kill (a wasp) by surrounding it in large numbers so as to raise its body heat.
12. intransitiveTo operate (a vehicle) at high speed (whether balls-out, balls to the wall, or ballin' the jack, each of which comes ultimately from ball via a different route).

    Near-synonym: haul ass

    1 more example

    Hang back for a bit — that Peterbilt in the left lane is really ballin’ and I'd rather not be real close to him.

    Synonyms: haul ass

1. hobbiesAn exclamation to inform players on an adjacent playing area that a loose ball from another game has entered their playing area; typically implies that play should be paused until the ball has been retrieved.
2. Australian rules footballAn appeal by the crowd for holding the ball against a tackled player.

   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.

   2007, “Laws Of The Afl 2007”, in AFL Sydney Swans Rules Zone, archived from the original on 22 Mar 2008

plural balls

1. A formal dance.

   We still have pictures from the ball we had in August 2008.

2. informalA very enjoyable time.

   I had a ball at that concert.

   Synonyms: blast, whale of a time

3. A competitive event among young African-American and Latin American LGBTQ+ people in which prizes are awarded for drag and similar performances. See ball culture.

1. An English surname.

   Retired teacher Helene Ball won a three-year battle against Derbyshire County Council after it fenced off a 98cm gated gap between her garden and a council car park in April 2023.

   2026 September 22, Ben Mellor, Helen McCarthy, “'Lego-type blocks' anger woman who was fenced in”, in BBC News, archived from the original on 22 Sep 2026, retrieved 22 Sep 2026

2. A town in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States.
3. A hamlet in Egloshayle parish, on the eastern outskirts of Wadebridge, Cornwall, England (OS grid ref SX0073).