(bôl) noun
1. A spherical or nearly spherical body.
2. Such a body, of any size and made of various substances, used in a number of games.
3. Any of several such games, especially baseball.
4. The mode of throwing or pitching a ball: a foul ball, a high or swift ball.
5. In baseball, a delivery by the pitcher in which the ball fails to pass over the home plate between the batsman's shoulder and knees and is not struck at by him: distinguished from strike.
6. Mil. a Any spherical or conoid projectile, larger than a small shot. b Such projectiles collectively: to load with ball.
7. A roundish protuberance or part of something, especially of the human body or of some organ.
8. A planet or star, especially the earth.
—to be on the ball Slang To be competent or efficient
—to have something on the ball Slang To have ability.
—to play ball
1. To begin or resume playing a ball game or some other activity.
2. Colloq. To cooperate.
—v.t. & v.i. To form, gather, or wind into a ball: to ball worsted.
—to ball up Slang To embarrass; confuse or become confused. ◆ Homophone: bawl. [<ON böllr]

(bôl) noun
A formal social assembly for dancing. ◆ Homophone: bawl. [<F bal a dance <baler <LL ballare dance]

(bôl), John,
died 1381, English priest; a leader of Wat Tyler's peasants' revolt.