ball
ball — 動詞
1. to squeeze, roll, or gather a soft material so that it takes on a rounded, close
揉成團；捏圓
把柔軟物體揉、捏、團成圓形
to squeeze, roll, or gather a soft material so that it takes on a rounded, closed shape, such as crumpling paper or kneading dough.
Kenji balled the dough between his palms before placing it on the tray.
Kenji 把麵糰在掌心之間揉成圓球，然後放到烤盤上。
transitive: ball + soft material
Mei angrily balled the letter up and threw it into the bin.
Mei 氣得把信揉成一團，丟進垃圾桶。
ball something up (phrasal pattern)
The hedgehog balled up tightly when the dog came near.
狗一靠近，刺蝟就緊緊地蜷成一球。
Nervous, Farouk balled her hands into fists under the desk.
Farouk 緊張地在桌子底下把雙手握成拳頭。
The chef balled small portions of melon for the fruit platter.
主廚把哈密瓜挖成一顆顆小球，擺上水果拼盤。
文法句型
ball something up
ball up into something
用法筆記
Object is usually a soft, shapeable material (paper, dough, cloth, hands) or a body part that can curl. Frequently appears with the particle 'up' to stress completion of the round shape.
常見錯誤
2. a vulgar slang verb, said mostly of a male subject, for having sex with a partne
上床；性交
粗俗俚語，多指男性與人性交
a vulgar slang verb, said mostly of a male subject, for having sex with a partner.
The lyrics are crude, bragging about who the singer balled the night before.
歌詞十分粗俗，吹噓著這位歌手前一晚跟誰上了床。
vulgar slang; avoid in polite or formal speech
After three drinks, Frank leaned over and whispered that he had balled Sandra in the back of the truck.
喝了三杯酒之後，Frank 湊過來，小聲說自己曾在卡車後座跟 Sandra 上過床。
transitive vulgar slang: ball + person
Editors at the magazine cut the passage where the narrator boasts about balling a co-worker.
雜誌編輯刪掉了那段敘事者誇耀自己跟同事上床的情節。
In the diner scene, the trucker bragged that he had balled half the waitresses in town.
在小餐館那一幕，那位卡車司機吹噓自己跟鎮上一半的女服務生都上過床。
- screw
also vulgar slang; more current than 'ball'
- sleep with
the standard, neutral phrase
- bed
literary or dated; less crude than 'ball'
文法句型
ball someone
用法筆記
Vulgar US slang, mostly mid-20th-century. Subject is typically male in older usage. Learners should recognise it for reading older fiction or song lyrics, but not produce it — it offends in almost every modern setting.
常見錯誤
ball — 名詞
1. a round item, often made of rubber, leather, or plastic, that you throw, kick, h
球
用來投擲、踢或擊打的圓形物體
a round item, often made of rubber, leather, or plastic, that you throw, kick, hit, or catch as part of a sport, or that children use as a toy.
Mei kicked the ball straight into the goal during the school match.
Mei 在學校比賽中一腳把球踢進了球門。
verb + the ball: kick / throw / catch
The puppy ran across the garden chasing a small red ball.
小狗在花園裡追著一顆紅色的小球跑來跑去。
Kenji threw the ball over the net, and his sister hit it back hard.
Kenji 把球擊過網，妹妹用力把球打了回來。
A tennis ball rolled out from under the bench and stopped near my feet.
一顆網球從長椅下滾出來，停在我腳邊。
The children sat on the floor and rolled the ball back and forth.
孩子們坐在地板上，把球滾來滾去。
文法句型
throw/kick/catch + a ball
用法筆記
Often appears in compounds naming the sport: tennis ball, football, beach ball, golf ball. Verbs that pair with it describe how it moves: kick, throw, catch, hit, bounce, roll.
常見錯誤
2. a round bundle made by winding string, wool, or yarn around itself many times so
一團；一捲
把線、毛線等纏繞成的圓團
a round bundle made by winding string, wool, or yarn around itself many times so it can be stored neatly or used in knitting.
Grandma kept three balls of red wool inside her wooden sewing basket.
奶奶在木製針線籃裡放了三團紅色毛線。
pattern: a ball of wool / yarn / string
The kitten batted a ball of yarn across the kitchen floor.
小貓把一團毛線球從廚房地板的這一端拍到另一端。
Sofia needs two more balls of cotton thread to finish the blue scarf.
Sofia 還需要兩團棉線才能織完那條藍色圍巾。
Mei cut a long piece of string and rolled it into a tight ball.
他剪下一段長線，把它捲成緊緊的一團。
文法句型
a ball of + uncountable noun
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the pattern 'a ball of + [thread / wool / yarn / string]'. The substance is uncountable, so 'ball' supplies the unit for counting.
常見錯誤
3. the firm, slightly raised cushion just below your big toe; also a similar cushio
蹠球；拇指球
腳掌前緣或拇指根部的圓凸部位
the firm, slightly raised cushion just below your big toe; also a similar cushion at the root of your thumb on the palm side. On the foot, this is the part that hits the ground first as you walk.
Dancers learn to balance on the ball of one foot for several seconds.
舞者要學會用一隻腳的蹠球平衡好幾秒鐘。
fixed phrase: the ball of your foot
Esme felt a sharp pain in the ball of her right foot after the long hike.
Esme 走完那段長程健行後，右腳的蹠球感到一陣劇痛。
The runner pushes off from the ball of the foot, not the heel.
跑者是用腳掌前端的蹠球蹬地，而不是用腳跟。
Press gently on the ball of your thumb to feel the soft muscle there.
輕輕按壓拇指根部那塊圓凸的肌肉，可以感覺到它的柔軟。
- pad
broader; can refer to any soft area of skin on the hand or foot
- heel
the back part of the foot rather than the front pad
文法句型
the ball of + your foot / thumb
用法筆記
Almost always used with the definite article and a body-part possessive: 'the ball of your foot', 'the ball of his thumb'. Distinguish from sense 1 (a sport object) — body-part contexts make this sense unambiguous.
常見錯誤
4. a round, often shiny or coloured object that people hang from the branches of a
聖誕球
掛在聖誕樹上的圓形裝飾
a round, often shiny or coloured object that people hang from the branches of a Christmas tree as a decoration during the holiday season.
Kofi hung a silver ball on the highest branch of the Christmas tree.
Kofi 把一顆銀色聖誕球掛在聖誕樹最高的那根樹枝上。
verb collocation: hang a ball on the tree
The children helped Mum unpack the box of glass balls and tinsel.
孩子們幫媽媽拆開那箱玻璃聖誕球和金蔥彩條。
One red ball slipped from the branch and shattered on the wooden floor.
一顆紅色的聖誕球從樹枝上滑落，在木地板上摔得粉碎。
Each year the family adds one new ball to the tree for memory.
每年家裡都會在聖誕樹上加一顆新的聖誕球當作回憶。
文法句型
hang + a ball + on the tree
用法筆記
In American English, the more common term is 'ornament' or 'Christmas ornament'; British English speakers also use 'bauble'. Use this sense only in a clearly festive context to avoid confusion with sense 1.
5. in football (soccer), a single kick or delivery that moves the ball between team
傳球
足球賽中將球送給隊友的一次踢動
in football (soccer), a single kick or delivery that moves the ball between teammates, often praised for skill or accuracy.
Kane sent a beautiful ball into the box, and Saka headed it home.
Kane 送出一記漂亮的傳球進到禁區，Saka 用頭球破門。
collocation: a beautiful / long / through ball
The midfielder played a long ball over the defence to the striker.
中場球員越過防守線，傳了一記長球給前鋒。
That was a clever ball from Rodri, splitting two defenders cleanly.
那是 Rodri 一記巧妙的傳球，乾淨俐落地穿過兩名後衛之間。
Brazil scored after a quick ball down the right wing.
巴西隊在右路一記快速傳球之後得分。
文法句型
play / send / pass + a ball + to someone
用法筆記
Used by football commentators and fans in countable form ('a long ball', 'a clever ball'), unlike sense 1 where 'the ball' refers to the physical object. Adjectives such as 'long', 'through', 'clever', 'beautiful' often precede it.
常見錯誤
6. in cricket, one single throw aimed by the player on the throwing team toward the
投球
板球賽中投手投向打擊者的一球
in cricket, one single throw aimed by the player on the throwing team toward the batter at the other end of the playing strip; six such throws in a row form a set called an over.
Anderson bowled a fast ball that swung sharply past the batter's bat.
Anderson 投出一記快速的球，球在空中大幅偏移，從打擊者的球棒旁擦過。
collocation: bowl + a fast / slow / wide ball
The first ball of the over hit the stumps and won the match for England.
那一輪的第一球擊中三柱門，為英格蘭贏得了比賽。
Kohli scored four runs off the very next ball.
Kohli 在下一個投球中跑出了四分。
Priya bowled a tricky slow ball, and the batter mistimed her shot.
她投出一記刁鑽的慢球，打擊者沒能掌握揮棒時機。
文法句型
bowl + a ball + at someone
用法筆記
Common in cricket commentary. Often counted within an over: 'the third ball of the over', 'the next ball'. Distinguish from sense 5 (football pass) by sport context.
7. in baseball, a pitch that the batter chooses to leave alone because it falls out
壞球
棒球中投在好球帶外的投球
in baseball, a pitch that the batter chooses to leave alone because it falls outside the marked area where they are expected to swing.
The umpire called the pitch a ball because it dropped below Mei's knees.
因為球落在 Mei 的膝蓋以下，主審判定那球是壞球。
umpire calls the pitch a ball
After three balls, the pitcher looked nervous and wiped sweat from his face.
在被連續判了三個壞球之後，投手看起來很緊張，伸手抹掉臉上的汗水。
counting balls in a count
Kenji watched the curve sail wide and knew it was a ball straight away.
Kenji 看著那顆曲球偏得老遠，馬上就知道那是個壞球。
With four balls in a row, the batter walked calmly to first base.
連續四個壞球之後，打者從容地走上一壘。
- strike
a pitch inside the strike zone or swung at and missed
用法筆記
Only used in the count system of baseball; contrasts with 'strike'. Often appears with numbers (one ball, two balls, four balls) to track the at-bat.
常見錯誤
8. a sport or match in which players throw, catch, kick, or hit a round object as t
球類運動
以球為主要器材的運動或比賽
a sport or match in which players throw, catch, kick, or hit a round object as the main activity.
The children begged their grandfather to play ball with them in the back garden.
孩子們纏著爺爺，要他到後院陪他們玩球。
play ball as a general ball sport
Mei and her cousins played ball every weekend until the autumn rain started.
Mei 跟她的表兄弟每個週末都會打球，一直到秋雨開始下才停。
play ball with companions
The school organises ball games on Friday afternoons to keep the students active.
學校在每週五下午安排球類活動，讓學生保持運動習慣。
Kenji is brilliant at any kind of ball, from tennis to basketball.
Kenji 任何球類運動都很厲害，從網球到籃球都行。
- ball game
more explicit; usually a specific match
用法筆記
Often appears as 'play ball' in American English to mean playing baseball or any informal ball sport. The compound 'ball game' refers to the sport itself.
9. a grand social event at which guests wear elegant evening clothes and spend the
舞會
賓客盛裝赴會的大型正式舞會
a grand social event at which guests wear elegant evening clothes and spend the night dancing together.
Kenji wore his grandmother's silver dress to the ball at the town hall.
Kenji 穿著奶奶的銀色洋裝，去市政廳參加那場舞會。
attending a ball in formal dress
The university holds a summer ball every June in the old college gardens.
那所大學每年六月都會在古老的學院花園裡舉辦夏季舞會。
hold a ball as an annual event
Kofi invited Esme to the charity ball at the museum next Saturday.
Kofi 邀請 Esme 下週六去博物館參加慈善舞會。
The young prince danced with three different partners at the royal ball.
在皇家舞會上，年輕的王子和三位不同的舞伴跳了舞。
用法筆記
Often modified by an adjective marking the occasion or hosts: 'summer ball', 'charity ball', 'royal ball', 'masked ball'. Implies formal dress and live music.
常見錯誤
10. an informal word for either round organ in a man's scrotum that makes sperm; alm
睪丸；蛋蛋
男性睪丸的非正式說法，多用複數
an informal word for either round organ in a man's scrotum that makes sperm; almost always used in the plural.
Mei took the football straight in the balls and collapsed on the pitch.
Mei 被足球正中蛋蛋，整個人倒在球場上。
plural form for testicles after impact
The vet checked the puppy's balls before signing the health form.
獸醫在簽署健康證明之前先檢查了小狗的睪丸。
plural form in a veterinary context
Kofi clutched his balls in pain after the cricket ball hit him.
Kofi 被板球擊中後，痛得緊抓著下面。
The doctor warned Tom to check his balls each month for any unusual lumps.
醫生提醒 Tom 每個月要自我檢查睪丸，注意有沒有不尋常的腫塊。
用法筆記
Informal and considered vulgar in many polite contexts; in writing or with strangers, prefer 'testicles'. Almost always plural in this sense.