Ball Definition Oxford English

Transitive ball somebody north american english taboo slang of a man to have sex with a woman.

Ball definition oxford english. Ball into something her hands balled into fists. Ball is defined by the lexicographers at oxford dictionaries as a solid or hollow spherical or egg shaped object that is kicked thrown or hit in a game. A ball of string some animals roll themselves into a ball for protection. A ball of yarn string the little girl curled into a ball in her mother s arms.

Meaning pronunciation picture example sentences grammar usage notes synonyms and more. Definition of ball game noun in oxford advanced learner s dictionary. What does ball mean. Word origin middle english.

Ball something into something my hands were balled into fists. We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website including to provide targeted advertising and track usage. See sphere in the oxford advanced american dictionary see sphere in the oxford learner s dictionary of academic english. From old norse bo llr of germanic origin.

As our lexicographers monitor the language developments related to covid 19 21 words sub entries and revisions have been added to the oxford english dictionary in an additional update including self isolation flatten the curve and social distancing. To form or gather into a ball balled the paper into a wad. 1 a round object used for throwing hitting or kicking in games and sports a golf tennis soccer ball bounce the ball and try to hit it over the net. 2 a round object or an object that has been formed into a round shape the sun was a huge ball of fire low on the horizon.

From old french espere from late latin sphera earlier sphaera from greek sphaira ball.