basketball

bas-ket-ball · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A sport played between two teams of five players who score by throwing a ball through a hoop mounted at each end of the court.

  2. 2.

    The large orange ball used in this sport.

Forms

plural: basketballs

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    play basketball — Participate in the sport.
  • •
    basketball court — The playing surface for basketball.
  • •
    basketball hoop — The ring through which players score.
  • •
    professional basketball — Basketball played at the highest level (NBA, etc.).
  • •
    shoot hoops — Play basketball casually.

Related words

See also: ball, basket, court, sport
Synonyms: b-ball, hoops

Etymology

American English compound from basket + ball, coined by the game's inventor, James Naismith, in 1891. He originally used a peach basket as the goal.