bowling ball

IPA/ˈbəʊlɪŋ bɔːl/
IPA/ˈbəʊlɪŋ bɔːl/

bowling ball — noun

1. A heavy ball that a bowler rolls down the lane to knock over pins. It has three

1.nounB1
Definition

A heavy ball that a bowler rolls down the lane to knock over pins. It has three finger holes on the top where the player places the thumb and two fingers.

Example

Amir picked up his black bowling ball and aimed carefully at the pins.

collocation: 'pick up a bowling ball'

Fatima's new bowling ball was too heavy for her to hold with one hand.

Common collocations
  • heavy bowling ball
  • pick up a bowling ball
  • roll a bowling ball
  • drop a bowling ball
  • a bowling ball weighs

Word family

Common collocations

Nouns

  • bowling ball bag
  • bowling ball rack

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed from 'bowling' (the sport, from Middle English 'bowle' meaning a round object, related to Old English 'bolla' for a rounded container) and 'ball'. Bowling itself dates back to ancient times, but the modern three-hole bowling ball became standard in the early 20th century with the rise of ten-pin bowling in the United States.