five

five — noun

1. a group of five players who form one side in a basketball game

1.名詞B1
釋義

a group of five players who form one side in a basketball game

例句

Niran plays guard on his school's starting five.

collocation: starting five

The coach put a tall five on the court to block more shots.

adjective + five for team composition

同義詞
  • team

    general term; five is specific to basketball squads

  • lineup

    emphasises the list of players chosen; five focuses on the group on the court

  • squad

    broader — can include reserves; five refers only to the players on the floor

文法句型

the + five

a + adjective + five

用法筆記

Usually paired with a modifier like starting, first, or an adjective describing the team's style (tall, short, fast). Rarely used outside basketball contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The five of basketball
✅the starting five
💡the noun five meaning 'team' is not used with of-phrases describing the sport.

2. a traditional British ball game where two or four gloved players use their hands

2.名詞C1
釋義

a traditional British ball game where two or four gloved players use their hands to hit a firm ball against the walls of a walled court

例句

Christopher learned to play fives at his British boarding school.

play + fives

The school's fives court was built next to the main sports hall.

compound noun: fives court

文法句型

play + five(s)

a game of + five(s)

用法筆記

Almost always written as fives (with a final -s) when referring to the sport. The game is primarily played at British private schools and universities. Not to be confused with squash or racquetball — in fives, players use a gloved hand rather than a racket.

3. a way of greeting or showing excitement by raising an open hand and slapping som

3.名詞A2
釋義

a way of greeting or showing excitement by raising an open hand and slapping someone else's raised palm

例句

Elena gave Meera a big high five after the exam results came out.

give + someone + a high five

The children exchanged fives when their team scored the winning goal.

exchange + fives (plural)

同義詞
  • high five

    the full and more explicit form; five alone is a shortened informal version

  • low five

    a similar gesture performed at waist level, less common

文法句型

give + someone + a five / a high five

exchange + fives

用法筆記

Used informally in greeting, congratulation, or celebration. The full form high five is more common in written English; five alone appears in phrases like give me five. The gesture can also be called a low five (slapping at waist height).

five — number