ball
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.a round object that you kick, throw, or hit in a game.
n.a spherical or ovoid object used as the central focus of various sports and games.
Simple“The children were kicking a ball around the park all afternoon.”
In context“The striker controlled the ball with his chest before volleying it into the top corner of the net.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
n.a solid or hollow round shape made of any material.
n.a spherical or roughly spherical mass of any substance.
Simple“She rolled the wool into a tight ball before she started knitting.”
In context“The sculptor formed a small ball of clay to represent the head of the figure.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
n.a large, formal party where people dance.
n.a large formal social gathering featuring ballroom dancing.
Simple“She wore a beautiful long dress to the charity ball.”
In context“The annual winter ball was the highlight of the social calendar, attracting dignitaries from across the country.”
- 04 B1 Intermediate
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the rounded part of your foot or hand.
n.the rounded, protuberant part of the human body, specifically the area under the toes or the base of the thumb.
Simple“You should stand on the balls of your feet when you dance.”
In context“The athlete suffered a strain in the ball of her foot after repetitive jumping drills.”
- 06 C1 Advanced
n.a slang word for a man's testicles.
n.a vulgar slang term for the testicles.
Simple“He got hit in the balls by the flying frisbee.”
In context“The comedian's routine relied heavily on crude jokes about his balls, which divided the audience.”
Synonyms - 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
- 08 C1 Advanced
v.to live a rich and flashy lifestyle.
v.to live an extravagant lifestyle or spend money ostentatiously.
Simple“He's been balling ever since he signed that big contract.”
In context“The rapper's lyrics often describe balling in expensive clubs and driving luxury vehicles.”
Synonyms - 09 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to play a game of basketball.
v.to play basketball, especially in an informal or street setting.
Simple“We're going to the park to ball for a few hours.”
In context“He spent his entire youth balling on the local courts, hoping for a college scholarship.”
Synonyms
Usage ball back
Multiple theories and origins. * From a short form of the Middle English given name Baldwin. * A toponymic surname for a person that lives near a knoll or rounded hill (i.e. somewhere shaped like a ball). * From the Old Norse given name Balle. * A habitational surname for a person from Ball, Cornwall, from Cornish Pelen.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.