cue ball: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Colloquial (for extended meaning), Technical (billiards context), Informal (slang).
Quick answer
What does “cue ball” mean?
The white ball in billiards, snooker, and similar games, struck by the cue.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The white ball in billiards, snooker, and similar games, struck by the cue.
Any spherical object resembling a billiard ball, especially one that is smooth and white; slang for a bald head.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In billiards/snooker contexts, usage is identical. The slang term for a bald head is slightly more common in American English.
Connotations
Technical and neutral in sports context; informal/jocular in slang.
Frequency
Medium frequency in sporting contexts; low frequency in everyday slang.
Grammar
How to Use “cue ball” in a Sentence
the [adjective] cue ballcue ball [verb]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cue ball” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He expertly cued the ball into the corner pocket.
American English
- She cued the ball off the rail for a perfect bank shot.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in sports science or physics contexts discussing motion.
Everyday
Primarily when discussing billiards/pool; slang for baldness.
Technical
Essential term in cue sports, referring to the ball propelled by the cue stick.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cue ball”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cue ball”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cue ball”
- Using 'cue ball' for any billiard ball (it is specifically the white striker).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a compound noun, written as two separate words.
No, only the white ball struck by the cue in games like pool, billiards, and snooker.
It is informal and jocular. Context matters; it can be taken as light-hearted teasing among friends but could be rude otherwise.
The cue ball is the white striker ball. The 8-ball is a black object ball with the number 8, which must be pocketed last to win a game of Eight-ball pool.
The white ball in billiards, snooker, and similar games, struck by the cue.
Cue ball is usually colloquial (for extended meaning), technical (billiards context), informal (slang). in register.
Cue ball: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkjuː ˌbɔːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkjuː ˌbɔːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “like a cue ball (meaning very smooth and white/bald)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CUE (the stick) hits the BALL → CUE BALL.
Conceptual Metaphor
SMOOTHNESS IS LACK OF HAIR (for slang).
Practice
Quiz
What is the 'cue ball' in informal slang?