bounce
v.v. to hit a surface and move quickly back or away from it. You can also use it to describe moving in a lively, energetic way.
v. to spring back or rebound after hitting a surface. Often describes the physical movement of an object or the energetic, rhythmic movement of a person.
The ball will bounce high on this hard floor.
The children love to bounce on the trampoline in the backyard until they are completely exhausted.
Light rays bounce off the reflective surface of the lake, creating a shimmering effect that makes it difficult for the photographer to capture the details of the shoreline.
From Middle English bounsen, bunsen (“to beat, thump”), cognate with Scots bunce, bonce (“to bounce”). Of uncertain origin. Perhaps imitative, related to bump, or related to Middle English bonchen (“to pound, beat”) and Dutch bonken (“to bump”). Compare Saterland Frisian bumzje (“to pound, bang, bounce”), West Frisian bûnzje (“to throb, bounce, pulsate”), Dutch bonzen (“to thump, knock, throb, bounce”), German Low German bunsen, bumsen (“to beat, bounce”), German bumsen (“to thud, bang, pound”).
The verb can be used both transitively (to bounce a ball) and intransitively (the ball bounces).