A hollow, bouncy rubber ball, pressurized and covered with usually yellow felt, used in the game of tennis.

A large light inflatable ball, ideally suited to beach games.

A nodule of plant material permeated with minerals found mostly in bituminous and anthracite coal seams

(anatomy, informal) The fleshy portion, opposite the nail, of the first segment (first phalange) of the human thumb.

A heavy iron ball attached to a prisoner's leg by a chain as a means of restraint. / (slang) One's wife, as a symbol of restraint. / (figuratively) Anything that restricts one's freedom or opportunities.

A globe of glass or crystal used to foretell the future. / (by extension) A way of seeing into the future. / One of the magickal tools of Wicca, used for divination and altar purposes

(basketball) A thrown ball that misses the basket, and completely fails to touch the net or supporting hoop. / (by extension) Any ball-like object that widely misses its intended target when thrown.

(Australian rules football) The action of a player keeping hold of the ball when tackled. When tackled the player must kick or handpass the ball and failing to do so (provided the opportunity was given) results in a free kick to the tackler.

In billiards, a circumstance in which a fault by another player, such as a scratch, permits the competitor to take the cue ball in hand and place it anywhere on the table.

plural of ball bearing