Langimage
English

basketball

|bas/ket/ball|

A2

🇺🇸

/ˈbæskɪtˌbɔl/

🇬🇧

/ˈbɑːskɪtˌbɔːl/

sport with a hoop

Etymology
Etymology Information

'basketball' originates from the combination of the words 'basket' and 'ball', where 'basket' refers to the hoop and 'ball' refers to the spherical object used in the game.

Historical Evolution

'basketball' was coined in the late 19th century when the sport was invented by James Naismith.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it referred to the game itself, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a game played between two teams of five players each, where the objective is to score points by throwing a ball through the opponent's hoop.

Basketball is a popular sport in the United States.

Synonyms

Noun 2

the ball used in the game of basketball.

He dribbled the basketball down the court.

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35