bowl
n. · v.-
1 a container (n.) A2 Elementary Cookinga round, deep dish used for holding food or liquid.
a concave, typically hemispherical vessel used for preparing or serving food.
ExampleHe poured the cereal into a large blue bowl and added some milk.
ExampleThe potter crafted a series of shallow ceramic bowls, each finished with a unique glaze that mimicked the textures of natural stone.
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2 an amount (n.) A2 Elementarythe amount of food or liquid that a bowl can hold.
the quantity of a substance contained within a bowl; functions as a measure of volume.
ExampleShe ate a bowl of hot soup to warm up after the long walk.
ExampleThe recipe requires a small bowl of diced onions, though the exact volume may vary depending on the desired intensity of the flavour.
- bowlful
- portion
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3 a stadium (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate American English Sporta large stadium that is shaped like a bowl.
an amphitheatre or stadium designed with a continuous, sloping seating arrangement resembling a bowl.
ExampleThousands of fans gathered in the bowl to watch the championship game.
ExampleThe city's historic outdoor bowl provides an acoustically unique environment for summer concerts and large-scale theatrical performances.
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4 a hollow part (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatethe round, hollow part of something, like a pipe or a spoon.
the concave or hollowed-out portion of an object or geographical feature.
ExampleHe cleaned the bowl of his tobacco pipe with a small tool.
ExampleThe valley formed a natural bowl between the mountains, trapping the morning mist until the sun rose high enough to burn it away.
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5 to throw a ball (v.) B1 Intermediate Sportto throw or roll a ball towards a target in sports like cricket or bowling.
to deliver a ball to a batsman in cricket, or to roll a ball in ten-pin bowling or lawn bowls.
ExampleIt was his turn to bowl, and he hoped to knock down all the pins.
ExampleThe fast bowler struggled to maintain a consistent line and length during the opening session of the test match.
UsageIn cricket, the verb is used for the delivery of the ball with a straight arm.
From Middle English bolle, from Old English bolla, bolle (“bowl, cup, pot, beaker, measure”), from Proto-West Germanic bollā, from Proto-Germanic bullǭ (“ball, round vessel, bowl”). Cognate with North Frisian bol (“bun, bread roll”), Middle Low German bolle, bole (“round object”), Dutch bol (“ball, sphere, scoop, dot”), German Bolle (“bulb”), Danish bolle (“bowl, bread roll”), Icelandic bolli (“cup”). Doublet of boule and pulla.
From Middle English bowle, boule, from Old French boule (“ball”), from Latin bulla (“bubble, stud, round object”). Doublet of poll.