bola: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Very High)Universal across all registers, from informal to formal (with specific senses being more restricted).
Quick answer
What does “bola” mean?
A spherical or roughly spherical object used for throwing, hitting, or kicking in games and sports.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A spherical or roughly spherical object used for throwing, hitting, or kicking in games and sports.
A spherical object; a formal social gathering for dancing; to form something into a spherical shape; a pitch in baseball not swung at and not judged to be a strike; to engage in sexual intercourse (vulgar slang).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal for the core sense. The verb 'to ball (up)' meaning to form into a ball is more common in US English. Baseball terminology ('ball', 'strike') is predominantly US.
Connotations
Similar connotations for sports and parties. The vulgar slang sense exists in both but may be slightly more prevalent in US informal usage.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties. The noun sense for a sports object is likely more frequent in the US due to cultural emphasis on baseball and basketball.
Grammar
How to Use “bola” in a Sentence
[V] ball (sth) up[V] ball sth (into sth)[N] ball of [material][N] ball + game/sportVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bola” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She balled the paper up and threw it away.
- The cat balled itself up on the cushion.
American English
- He balled his fists in frustration.
- The dough needs to be balled before baking.
adjective
British English
- He made a ball-point pen sketch.
- The ball valve needs replacing.
American English
- She wore a beautiful ball gown.
- We need a ballpark estimate by Tuesday.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used idiomatically: 'get the ball rolling' on a project, 'be on the ball', 'a ballpark figure' for an estimate.
Academic
Used in physics/mathematics to describe a spherical object; in social sciences to describe formal events as cultural phenomena.
Everyday
The most frequent context: sports, children's toys, informal parties ('it was a ball').
Technical
In engineering: 'ball bearing', 'ball valve'. In baseball: a specific pitch judgement.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bola”
- Spelling confusion with 'bawl' (to cry).
- Using 'play with a ball' instead of the more natural 'play ball' or 'play football/basketball'.
- Overusing the literal meaning and missing idiomatic uses.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is almost always countable (a ball, two balls). The only potential uncountable use is in the vulgar slang sense.
'Sphere' is more formal, technical, and precise, often used in mathematics and science. 'Ball' is the everyday word for a round object used in play or sport.
The term derives from the Latin 'ballare', meaning 'to dance', which is also the root of 'ballet'. It is unrelated to the spherical object.
Context is crucial. Look at surrounding words: sports verbs (throw/kick) indicate the object; words like 'gown', 'music', 'invitation' indicate the dance event; business idioms have their own patterns.
A spherical or roughly spherical object used for throwing, hitting, or kicking in games and sports.
Bola: in British English it is pronounced /bɔːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɑːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on the ball”
- “the whole ball of wax”
- “a ballpark figure”
- “play ball”
- “have a ball”
- “the ball is in your court”
- “drop the ball”
- “set/start the ball rolling”
- “keep your eye on the ball”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BALListic missile launching a BALL into the air. Both words share the 'ball' root related to throwing.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A GAME / ACTIVITIES ARE SPORTS (e.g., 'the ball is in your court', 'drop the ball'). A SUCCESSFUL EVENT IS A GOOD PARTY (e.g., 'we had a ball').
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, what does 'a ballpark figure' mean?