cannonball
cannonball — noun
1. a heavy round object made of metal or stone that was shot from a large gun calle
a heavy round object made of metal or stone that was shot from a large gun called a cannon, used in battles in past centuries
The museum display showed a rusted iron cannonball from a 17th-century warship.
historic sense, used with 'rusted', 'iron' as modifier
Children playing near the old fortress found a small cannonball buried in the grass.
A single cannonball could tear through the wooden side of a ship in battle.
Historians believe the cannonball that struck the tower walls came from a nearby hill.
- shot
broader term covering any projectile fired from a cannon or gun
- projectile
more technical; covers any object thrown or fired through the air
用法筆記
Typically found in historical or museum contexts. The sense is mostly passive vocabulary for modern learners — you are more likely to read about cannonballs than to use the word in conversation.
2. a very hard and fast stroke in tennis or similar sports, especially a serve that
a very hard and fast stroke in tennis or similar sports, especially a serve that gives the opponent little time to react
Nadia won the match with a cannonball serve that her opponent could not reach.
informal sports term; collocation: 'cannonball serve'
The young player practiced her cannonball shot every day until it became unstoppable.
Coach Park warned the team that a cannonball return could end a rally in seconds.
Fans cheered when the player blasted a cannonball shot past the goalkeeper.
- rocket
similar metaphor for a very fast shot; slightly less common
- bullet (serve/shot)
another metaphor for extreme speed; implies precision as well
用法筆記
Used mostly in informal sports commentary or casual conversation about tennis. Not a standard technical term in official tennis rules.
3. a jump into a swimming pool or other body of water in which a person tucks the a
a jump into a swimming pool or other body of water in which a person tucks the arms around the knees and curls the body into a ball shape, usually to make a big splash
Ravi did a huge cannonball off the diving board and splashed everyone by the pool.
collocation: 'do a cannonball'; recreation context
The children screamed with joy as each took turns doing a cannonball into the lake.
Aunt Rosa laughed when Leila's cannonball sent water all over the picnic blankets.
The camp instructor taught kids how to do a safe cannonball without hurting their knees.
- bomb
British informal term for a similar pool jump; 'bomb' often implies landing flat rather than tucked
用法筆記
Most common in informal poolside or beach contexts. The word can be used for the jump itself ('do a cannonball') or for the body position assumed during the jump.
cannonball — verb
1. to jump into a swimming pool, lake, or other water with the body curled into a b
to jump into a swimming pool, lake, or other water with the body curled into a ball shape, usually to make a big splash
Tomás cannonballed into the pool and sent a wave over the edge.
cannonball + into + [pool]; past tense -ed form
The twins kept cannonballing off the dock until their mother told them to stop.
gerund form; cannonball + off + [surface]
Yara dared her brother to cannonball from the highest rock into the river below.
Every hot afternoon the neighbourhood kids cannonball into the public swimming pool.
文法句型
cannonball + into + [body of water]
用法筆記
This verb is a back-formation from the noun sense 3. In everyday use the noun phrase 'do a cannonball' (sense 3) is still more common than the verb. The verb is informal and commonly occurs with 'into', 'off', or 'from'.
2. to move forward extremely fast and with so much force that it is hard to stop, o
to move forward extremely fast and with so much force that it is hard to stop, often bumping into things along the way
The runaway shopping cart cannonballed across the parking lot and hit a fence.
intransitive; cannonball + across + [place]
Aiko watched her little dog cannonball through the bushes after a squirrel.
The skateboarder cannonballed down the steep hill, unable to slow down.
A loose tire cannonballed off the truck and rolled across three lanes of traffic.
文法句型
cannonball + through/across + [space]
用法筆記
Conveys a sense of uncontrolled or barely controlled momentum. Often describes objects or people moving faster than intended, with a risk of collision.
3. to start taking part in a different situation, activity, or emotional state in a
to start taking part in a different situation, activity, or emotional state in an abrupt, forceful way, without any gradual transition
After years of doubt, she cannonballed into freelance design without a backup plan.
figurative; cannonball + into + [abstract domain]
The shy teenager suddenly cannonballed into a heated argument with the whole class.
The company cannonballed into the international market and struggled to keep up.
After her divorce, she cannonballed into a new fitness routine and a new social life.
- plunge
similar meaning but can be transitive or reflexive; slightly more formal
- dive into
less forceful; implies eagerness more than recklessness
- crash into
stronger suggestion of negative consequences or lack of control
文法句型
cannonball + into + [abstract state/condition]
用法筆記
Always figurative. The subject usually had some hesitation or distance before the sudden entry, making the abruptness noteworthy. Common with career changes, emotional states, and competitive situations.