a game played by two opposing teams of five players each, usually on an indoor court. Points are scored by throwing the ball through an elevated horizontal metal hoop the inflated ball used in this game
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
bas•ket•ball /ˈbæskɪtˌbɔl/USA pronunciation
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Sport[uncountable] a game played by two teams who attempt to score points by tossing a ball through a
basket on the opponent's side of the court. - Sport[countable] the round, inflated ball used in basketball.
bas•ket•ball
(bas′kit bôl′, bä′skit-),USA pronunciation n.
- Sporta game played by two teams of usually five players each on a rectangular court having a raised basket or goal at each end, points being scored by tossing the ball through the opponent's basket.
- Sportthe round, inflated ball, approximately 30 in. (76 cm) in circumference, used in this game.
- basket + ball1 1890–95, American.
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