ball

a pitch that is not in the strike zone; "he threw nine straight balls before the manager yanked him" ; the game of baseball ; round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games; "the ball travelled 90 mph on his serve"; "the mayor threw out the first ball"; "the ball rolled into the corner pocket" ; a spherical object used as a plaything; "he played with his rubber ball in the bathtub" ; a solid projectile that is shot by a musket; "they had to carry a ramrod as well as powder and ball" ; one of the two male reproductive glands that produce spermatozoa and secrete androgens; "she kicked him in the balls and got away" ; a more or less rounded anatomical body or mass; "the ball at the base of the thumb"; "he stood on the balls of his feet" ; a lavish dance requiring formal attire ; a compact mass; "a ball of mud caught him on the shoulder" ; the people assembled at a lavish formal dance; "the ball was already emptying out before the fire alarm sounded" ; United States comedienne best known as the star of a popular television program (1911-1989) ; an object with a spherical shape; "a ball of fire" ;

ball-and-socket joint

a joint that can rotate within a socket ; a freely moving joint in which a sphere on the head of one bone fits into a rounded cavity in the other bone ;

ball-breaker

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

ball-buster

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

ball-peen hammer

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

ball and chain

heavy iron ball attached to a prisoner by a chain ;

ball bearing

bearings containing small metal balls ;

ball boy

a boy who retrieves balls for tennis players ;

ball carrier

(football) the player who is carrying (and trying to advance) the ball on an offensive play ;

ball cartridge

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

ball club

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

ball cock

floating ball that controls level in a water tank ;

ball fern

feathery fern of tropical Asia and Malaysia ;

ball field

the baseball playing field ;

ball game

a field game played with a ball (especially baseball) ;

ball gown

the most formal gown; worn to a ball ;

ball hawk

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

ball hawking

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

ball nettle

coarse prickly weed having pale yellow flowers and yellow berrylike fruit; common throughout southern and eastern United States ;

ball nightshade

coarse prickly weed having pale yellow flowers and yellow berrylike fruit; common throughout southern and eastern United States ;

ball of fire

someone whose career progresses rapidly ; a highly energetic and indefatigable person ;

ball valve

any valve that checks flow by the seating of a ball ;

ballad

a narrative poem of popular origin ; a narrative song with a recurrent refrain ;

ballad maker

a composer of words or music for popular songs ;

ballade

a poem consisting of 3 stanzas and an envoy ;

balladeer

a singer of popular ballads ;

ballast

any heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship ; an electrical device for starting and regulating fluorescent and discharge lamps ; a resistor inserted into a circuit to compensate for changes (as those arising from temperature fluctuations) ; an attribute that tends to give stability in character and morals; something that steadies the mind or feelings ; coarse gravel laid to form a bed for streets and railroads ;

ballast resistor

a resistor inserted into a circuit to compensate for changes (as those arising from temperature fluctuations) ;

ballcock

floating ball that controls level in a water tank ;

balldress

a suit or dress for formal occasions ;

ballerina

a female ballet dancer ;

ballet

a theatrical representation of a story that is performed to music by trained dancers ; music written for a ballet ;

ballet company

a company that produces ballets ;

ballet dancer

a trained dancer who is a member of a ballet company ;

ballet master

a man who directs and teaches and rehearses dancers for a ballet company ;

ballet mistress

a woman who directs and teaches and rehearses dancers for a ballet company ;

ballet position

classical position of the body and especially the feet in ballet ;

ballet skirt

very short skirt worn by ballerinas ;

balletomane

a ballet enthusiast ;

balletomania

extraordinary enthusiasm for ballets ;