n (1) 球(round or roundish object used in play) [C]：throw a～投球;a foot～/tennis-～/beach-～足球/网球/海滩(上玩的)球;a golf～高尔夫球;a～game (棒)球赛;a～team 球队;

(2) 投出的球;一定的投球能力 (throw of a ball or ability to throw a ball in a certain way) [C]：a high/fast～from the bowler (板球)投球手投过的一个高吊球/快速球;send over/throw a very fast～投过一个快速球;a foul/curve～界外球/弧线球;

(3) 球戏 (game played with such an object) [U]：The boys are out playing～. 男孩子们在外面玩球。

(4) 球状物 (anything round in shape) [C]：The sun/earth is a great～. 太阳/地球是一个巨大的球体。〖同〗sphere，globe;

(5) (一)团 (round mass of material) [C]：a～of clay/wool/string/yarn 一团粘土/羊毛线/线/纱; a snow～/meat～雪团/肉团;The kitten curled up into a～in front of the fireplace.小猫在壁炉前蜷成一个团。roll a sock into a～把袜子卷成团;

(6)人体上的球状部位 (round part of the body) [C]：the ～of the foot/the thumb 脚/手掌上靠近大脚趾(拇指)的球状部分(拇指球);eyeball 眼球;

the ball is in sb's court 轮到某人(行动)了：The～is in your court.该你啦!

keep/start/get/set the ball rolling 使(谈话或活动)继续/开始/开始/开始：He started the～rolling by telling a joke.他讲了个笑话使大家聊了起来。

(be) on the ball 在行，内行 (infml)：That book/writer/manager is really on the～! 那本书/那位作家/那位经理写(干)得真在行!

play ball 合作;开始比赛(棒球)：He's refusing to play～with us.他在拒绝与我们合作。When the umpire calls “play～”， the game begins. 当裁判喊“开始”，比赛就开始进行。

→′ballboy， ′ballgirl n 网球赛中拾球的青年人;′ballcock n 浮球阀;′ballpark n 棒球场; 地域;′ball-point (=′ball-point pen) n 圆珠笔;

vt 把…… (绕， 挤)成球(form sth into a ball by winding， squeezing， etc)[T+n]：～one's fist 攥拳;

【辨异】ball与 globe和sphere 都指圆物体。ball 可指任何圆的物体或部分;globe和sphere则指非常圆或近似圆的物体;globe还可指“地球”，“地球仪”。