ball (n.)

  1. 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'

  2. 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'

  3. the game of baseball

  4. a pitch that is not in the strike zone; he threw nine straight balls before the manager yanked him'

  5. a solid projectile that is shot by a musket; they had to carry a ramrod as well as powder and ball

    [ Syn: musket ball ]

  6. an object with a spherical shape; a ball of fire

    [ Syn: globe , orb ]

  7. the people assembled at a lavish formal dance; the ball was already emptying out before the fire alarm sounded'

  8. one of the two male reproductive glands that produce spermatozoa and secrete androgens; she kicked him in the balls and got away

    [ Syn: testis , testis , testicle , testicle , orchis , orchis , ballock , ballock , bollock , bollock , nut , nut , egg , egg ]

  9. a spherical object used as a plaything; he played with his rubber ball in the bathtub'

  10. United States comedienne best known as the star of a popular television program (1911-1989)

    [ Syn: ball , lucille ball ]

  11. a compact mass; a ball of mud caught him on the shoulder

    [ Syn: clod , glob , lump , clump , chunk ]

  12. a lavish dance requiring formal attire

    [ Syn: formal ]

    ball (v.)

  1. form into a ball by winding or rolling; ball wool'

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.