ball : Idioms & Phrases

• noun heavy iron ball attached to a prisoner by a chain
  

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• a joint in which a ball moves within a socket, so as to admit of motion in every direction within certain limits.

Webster 1913

• noun bearings containing small metal balls
  ball bearing; needle bearing; roller bearing.
  

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• noun bearings containing small metal balls
  ball bearing; needle bearing; roller bearing.
  

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• a mechanical device for lessening the friction of axle bearings by means of small loose metal balls.

Webster 1913

• noun a boy who retrieves balls for tennis players
  

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• noun (football) the player who is carrying (and trying to advance) the ball on an offensive play
  runner.
  

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• noun a general purpose cartridge having a primer and a ball and a full charge of powder
  

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• a cartridge containing a ball, as distinguished from a blank cartridge, containing only powder.

Webster 1913

• noun a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together
  club; nine; baseball club.
  
  • each club played six home games with teams in its own division

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• noun floating ball that controls level in a water tank
  ballcock.
  

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• a faucet or valve which is opened or closed by the fall or rise of a ball floating in water at the end of a lever.

Webster 1913

• noun feathery fern of tropical Asia and Malaysia
  squirrel's-foot fern; Davallia Mariesii; Davalia bullata mariesii; Davalia bullata.
  

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• noun the baseball playing field
  diamond; baseball field.
  

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• noun a field game played with a ball (especially baseball)
  ballgame.
  

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• noun the most formal gown; worn to a ball
  

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• a pivot of a spherical form, which permits lateral deflection of the arbor or shaft, while retaining the pivot in its socket. Knight.

Webster 1913

• noun a team athlete who is skilled at stealing or catching the ball
  

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• noun a skillful maneuver in catching balls or in stealing the ball from the opposing team
  

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• the lever used in a ball cock.

Webster 1913

• noun coarse prickly weed having pale yellow flowers and yellow berrylike fruit; common throughout southern and eastern United States
  horse nettle; Solanum carolinense; bull nettle; ball nettle.
  

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• noun coarse prickly weed having pale yellow flowers and yellow berrylike fruit; common throughout southern and eastern United States
  horse nettle; Solanum carolinense; bull nettle; ball nettle.
  

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• noun a highly energetic and indefatigable person
  human dynamo; fireball; powerhouse.
  
• noun someone whose career progresses rapidly
  whizz-kid; go-getter; whiz-kid.
  

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• the eye itself, as distinguished from its lids and socket; formerly, the pupil of the eye.

Webster 1913

• verb surprise greatly; knock someone's socks off
  take aback; shock; blow out of the water; floor.
  
  • I was floored when I heard that I was promoted

WordNet

• verb make a mess of, destroy or ruin
  muck up; foul up; blow; botch up; botch; bollix; fumble; mishandle; bollocks; bumble; bobble; bollocks up; spoil; bollix up; fuck up; fluff; flub; bodge; muff; louse up; mess up; screw up; bungle.
  
  • I botched the dinner and we had to eat out
  • the pianist screwed up the difficult passage in the second movement

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• noun any valve that checks flow by the seating of a ball
  

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• (Mach.), a contrivance by which a ball, placed in a circular cup with a hole in its bottom, operates as a valve.

Webster 1913

• (Mining), a sort of iron ore, found in loose masses of a globular form, containing sparkling particles.

Webster 1913

• noun a freely moving joint in which a sphere on the head of one bone fits into a rounded cavity in the other bone
  enarthrodial joint; enarthrosis; spheroid joint; articulatio spheroidea; cotyloid joint.
  
• noun a joint that can rotate within a socket
  

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• noun a demanding woman who destroys men's confidence
  ball-breaker.
  
• noun a job or situation that is demanding and arduous and punishing
  ball-breaker.
  
  • Vietnam was a ball-breaker

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• noun a demanding woman who destroys men's confidence
  ball-breaker.
  
• noun a job or situation that is demanding and arduous and punishing
  ball-breaker.
  
  • Vietnam was a ball-breaker

WordNet

Ball"-flow`er noun

Definitions

1. (Arch.) An ornament resembling a ball placed in a circular flower, the petals of which form a cup round it, -- usually inserted in a hollow molding.

Webster 1913

• adjective satellite used of a player skilled in stealing the ball or robbing a batter of a hit
  
  • a ball-hawking center fielder

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• noun a hammer with one round and one flat end; used in working metal
  

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• adjective satellite having the shape of a sphere or ball
  spherical; globular; global; orbicular; spheric; globose.
  
  • a spherical object
  • nearly orbicular in shape
  • little globular houses like mud-wasp nests"- Zane Grey

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• noun something badly botched or muddled
  cockup; mess-up; ballup.
  

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• noun (baseball) an advance to first base by a batter who receives four balls
  pass; walk.
  
  • he worked the pitcher for a base on balls

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• verb be well-informed
  know the score; be with it; know what's going on; know what's what.
  

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• noun large and light ball; for play at the seaside
  beachball.
  

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• noun ball used in playing billiards
  

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• noun wooden ball that is bowled in the Italian game of bocce
  bocce ball; bocci ball.
  

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• noun wooden ball that is bowled in the Italian game of bocce
  bocce ball; bocci ball.
  

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• noun wooden ball that is bowled in the Italian game of bocce
  bocce ball; bocci ball.
  

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• noun a cricket ball bowled as if to break one way that actually breaks in the opposite way
  bosie; wrong 'un; googly.
  

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• noun a large ball with finger holes used in the sport of bowling
  bowl.
  

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• noun a pitch of a baseball that is thrown with spin so that its path curves as it approaches the batter
  breaking ball; curve; bender.
  

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• noun a small sphere of camphor or naphthalene used to keep moths away from stored clothing
  mothball.
  

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• noun a solid projectile that in former times was fired from a cannon
  cannonball; round shot.
  

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• strictly, a round solid missile of stone or iron made to be fired from a cannon, but now often applied to a missile of any shape, whether solid or hollow, made for cannon. Elongated and cylindrical missiles are sometimes called bolts; hollow ones charged with explosives are properly called shells.

Webster 1913

• (Bot.), a species of Campanula of several varietes, cultivated for its handsome bell-shaped flowers.

Webster 1913

• noun a baseball thrown with little velocity when the batter is expecting a fastball
  change-of-pace; off-speed pitch; change-up.
  

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• noun usually made of flaked salt cod and mashed potatoes
  codfish cake.
  

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• a ball of popped corn stuck together with soft candy from molasses or sugar.

Webster 1913

• noun a fungus disease of cranberries
  

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• noun the ball used in playing cricket
  

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• noun a wooden ball used in playing croquet
  

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• noun a glass or crystal globe used in crystal gazing by fortunetellers
  

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• noun the ball that the billiard player or pool player strikes with his cue
  

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• a familiar toy of children, having a cup on the top of a piece of wood to which, a ball is attached by a cord; the ball, being thrown up, is to be caught in the cup; bilboquet. Milman. -

Webster 1913

• noun a pitch of a baseball that is thrown with spin so that its path curves as it approaches the batter
  breaking ball; curve; bender.
  

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• noun a person who has a nasty or unethical character undeserving of respect
  insect; worm; louse.
  

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• verb commit a faux pas or a fault or make a serious mistake
  goof; boob; sin; blunder.
  
  • I blundered during the job interview

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• noun any of various highly prized edible subterranean fungi of the genus Tuber; grow naturally in southwestern Europe
  truffle; earthnut.
  

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• noun a black pool ball bearing the number 8; should be the last to go in certain pool games
  

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• noun (baseball) a ball struck with the bat so that it stays between the lines (the foul lines) that define the width of the playing field
  

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• . (Baseball) (a) A ball passing over the home base at the height called for by the batsman, and delivered by the pitcher while wholly within the lines of his position and facing the batsman. (b) A batted ball that falls inside the foul lines; called also a fair hit.

Webster 1913

• a ball in which porsons appear in fanciful dresses in imitation of the costumes of different persons and nations.

Webster 1913

• noun a ball at which guests wear costumes and masks
  masked ball; fancy-dress ball.
  

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• noun a low tuberculate cactus with white feathery spines; northeastern Mexico
  Mammillaria plumosa.
  

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• noun ball used in playing field hockey
  

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• noun well-seasoned balls of ground fish and eggs and crushed crumbs simmered in fish stock
  gefilte fish.
  
• noun a fried ball or patty of flaked fish and mashed potatoes
  fish cake.
  

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• fish (usually salted codfish) shared fine, mixed with mashed potato, and made into the form of a small, round cake. U.S.

Webster 1913

• noun (baseball) a hit that flies up in the air
  fly.
  

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• noun (baseball) a ball struck with the bat so that it does not stay between the lines (the foul lines) that define the width of the playing field
  

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• (Baseball), a ball that first strikes the ground outside of the foul ball lines, or rolls outside of certain limits.

Webster 1913

• (Baseball), lines from the home base, through the first and third bases, to the boundary of the field.

Webster 1913

• or

Webster 1913

• a kind of fungus or mushroom, which, when pressed, bursts and scatters a fine dust; a puffball.

Webster 1913

• three gilt balls used as a sign of a pawnbroker's office or shop; originally taken from the coat of arms of Lombardy, the first money lenders in London having been Lombards.

Webster 1913

• noun a small hard ball used in playing golf; dimpled to reduce wind resistance
  

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• noun (baseball) a hit that travels along the ground
  grounder; groundball; hopper.
  

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• noun a ball of chewing gum with a coating of colored sugar
  

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• noun a compact mass of hair that forms in the alimentary canal (especially in the stomach of animals as a result of licking fur)
  hairball; trichobezoar.
  

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• verb enjoy oneself greatly
  have a good time.
  
  • We had a ball at the party and didn't come home until 2 AM

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• noun (basketball) the way play begins or resumes when possession is disputed; an official tosses the ball up between two players who jump in an effort to tap it to a teammate
  

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• noun ball used in playing lacrosse
  

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• (Mil.), a ball of combustible materials, used to afford light; sometimes made so as to fired from a cannon or mortar, or to be carried up by a rocket.

Webster 1913

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

WordNet

• noun a ball at which guests wear costumes and masks
  masked ball; fancy-dress ball.
  

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• a ball in which the dancers wear masks.

Webster 1913

• noun a ball at which guests wear costumes and masks
  masked ball; fancy-dress ball.
  

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• noun a Jewish dumpling made of matzo meal; usually served in soup
  matzah ball; matzo ball.
  

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• noun a Jewish dumpling made of matzo meal; usually served in soup
  matzah ball; matzo ball.
  

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• noun a Jewish dumpling made of matzo meal; usually served in soup
  matzah ball; matzo ball.
  

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• noun heavy ball used in physical training
  

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• noun a bite of melon cut as a sphere
  

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Min"ie ball`

Etymology

Definitions

1. A conical rifle bullet, with a cavity in its base plugged with a piece of iron, which, by the explosion of the charge, is driven farther in, expanding the sides to fit closely the grooves of the barrel.

Webster 1913

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

WordNet

• (Ordnance), a round projectile with an iron bolt protruding to prevent it from turning in the gun.

Webster 1913

• noun a serve that strikes the net before falling into the receiver's court; the ball must be served again
  let.
  

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• noun ball used to knock down ninepins
  ninepin ball.
  

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• noun unlawfully delivered ball in cricket
  
  • the umpire called it a no ball

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• noun the billiard ball that is intended to be the first ball struck by the cue ball
  

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• noun a pitch that the catcher should have caught but did not; allows a base runner to advance a base
  

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• noun light hollow ball used in playing table tennis
  

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• noun ball used in playing softball
  softball.
  

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• noun wooden ball that is struck with mallets in playing polo
  

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• noun ball used in playing pool
  

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• one of the colored ivory balls used in playing the game at billiards called pool.

Webster 1913

• noun popcorn combined with a thick sugar or molasses or caramel syrup and formed into balls
  

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• noun meat patties rolled in rice and simmered in a tomato sauce
  porcupines.
  

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Pud"dle-ball` noun

Definitions

1. The lump of pasty wrought iron as taken from the puddling furnace to be hammered or rolled.

Webster 1913

• (Print.), a ball for inking types; a pompet.

Webster 1913

• noun an inflated ball or bag that is suspended and punched for training in boxing
  punch bag; punchball; punching bag.
  

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• a ball held by an elastic string so that it returns to the hand from which it is thrown, used as a plaything.

Webster 1913

• noun a bullet designed to be fired from a rifle; no longer made spherical in shape
  

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• noun the ball used to play roulette
  

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• noun inflated oval ball used in playing rugby
  

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• soap mixed with sand, made into a ball for use at the toilet.

Webster 1913

• (Bot.), any large fungus of the genus Polyporus. See Polyporus.

Webster 1913

• (Opt.), the lens of a camera obscura mounted in a wooden ball which fits a socket in a window shutter so as to be readily turned, like the eye, to different parts of the landscape.

Webster 1913

• noun ball used to knock down ninepins
  ninepin ball.
  

WordNet

• a disk or flattish ball of wood for throwing at the pins in the game of skittles.

Webster 1913

• (Mil.), a ball or case containing a composition which, when it burns, sends forth thick smoke.

Webster 1913

• noun an inflated ball used in playing soccer
  

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• a ball shot from a firearm, which reaches an object without having sufficient force to penetrate it.

Webster 1913

• noun rubber ball used in playing squash
  

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• a projectile consisting of two half balls united by a bar; a bar shot. See Illust. of Bar shot, under Bar.

Webster 1913

• noun a pitch thrown sidearm instead of overhead
  submarine pitch.
  

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• noun a kitchen utensil consisting of a perforated metal ball for making tea
  

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• noun ball about the size of a fist used in playing tennis
  

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• a pawnbroker's sign or shop.

Webster 1913

• a ball arranged to drop from the summit of a pole, to indicate true midday time, as at Greenwich Observatory, England. Nichol.

Webster 1913

• noun a ball that slides down a staff to show a fixed time; especially at an observatory
  

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• (Lawn Tennis), to strike a ball so as to send it up into the air.

Webster 1913

• to strike them gently and so as to keep them in good position during a series of caroms.

Webster 1913

• (Billiards), to drive a ball into a pocket of the table.

Webster 1913

• a ball of soap to be used in washing the hands or face. Swift.

Webster 1913

Whit"worth ball`

Definitions

1. (Gun.) A prejectile used in the Whitworth gun.

Webster 1913

• noun (trademark) a hollow plastic ball with cutouts
  Wiffle.
  

WordNet

• a name applied to the interwoven rolling masses of the stems of herbs, which are driven by the winds over the steppes of Tartary. Cf. Tumbleweed. Maunder (Treas. of Bot.)

Webster 1913

• a ball or mass of wool.

Webster 1913