Definitions for basketball
ˈbæs kɪtˌbɔl, ˈbɑ skɪt-bas·ket·ball

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.5 / 2 votes

1. basketball, basketball game, hoopsnoun

   a game played on a court by two opposing teams of 5 players; points are scored by throwing the ball through an elevated horizontal hoop

2. basketballnoun

   an inflated ball used in playing basketball

WiktionaryRate this definition:4.0 / 3 votes

1. basketballnoun

   A sport in which two opposing teams of five players strive to put a ball through a hoop.

2. basketballnoun

   The particular kind of ball used in the sport of basketball.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Basketball

   Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately 9.4 inches (24 cm) in diameter) through the defender's hoop (a basket 18 inches (46 cm) in diameter mounted 10 feet (3.048 m) high to a backboard at each end of the court), while preventing the opposing team from shooting through their own hoop. A field goal is worth two points, unless made from behind the three-point line, when it is worth three. After a foul, timed play stops and the player fouled or designated to shoot a technical foul is given one, two or three one-point free throws. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins, but if regulation play expires with the score tied, an additional period of play (overtime) is mandated. Players advance the ball by bouncing it while walking or running (dribbling) or by passing it to a teammate, both of which require considerable skill. On offense, players may use a variety of shots – the layup, the jump shot, or a dunk; on defense, they may steal the ball from a dribbler, intercept passes, or block shots; either offense or defense may collect a rebound, that is, a missed shot that bounces from rim or backboard. It is a violation to lift or drag one's pivot foot without dribbling the ball, to carry it, or to hold the ball with both hands then resume dribbling. The five players on each side fall into five playing positions. The tallest player is usually the center, the second-tallest and strongest is the power forward, a slightly shorter but more agile player is the small forward, and the shortest players or the best ball handlers are the shooting guard and the point guard, who implements the coach's game plan by managing the execution of offensive and defensive plays (player positioning). Informally, players may play three-on-three, two-on-two, and one-on-one. Invented in 1891 by Canadian-American gym teacher James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts, in the United States, basketball has evolved to become one of the world's most popular and widely viewed sports. The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the most significant professional basketball league in the world in terms of popularity, salaries, talent, and level of competition. Outside North America, the top clubs from national leagues qualify to continental championships such as the EuroLeague and the Basketball Champions League Americas. The FIBA Basketball World Cup and Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament are the major international events of the sport and attract top national teams from around the world. Each continent hosts regional competitions for national teams, like EuroBasket and FIBA AmeriCup. The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup and Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament feature top national teams from continental championships. The main North American league is the WNBA (NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship is also popular), whereas the strongest European clubs participate in the EuroLeague Women.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. basketball

   Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players each try to score points by throwing a ball into a hoop or basket. The game is typically played on a rectangular court with a raised goal at each end. Points are scored by shooting the ball through the hoop, and the team with the most points at the end of the game wins. The sport was invented by Dr. James Naismith in 1891 and is now played at various professional and amateur levels worldwide.

U.S. National Library of MedicineRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Basketball

   A competitive team sport played on a rectangular court having a raised basket at each end.

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. basketball

   A type of sport.

   Basketball is a team sport.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on March 8, 2020  

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Basketball

   Basket vs. Basketball -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Basket and Basketball.

Matched Categories

1. • Ball
   • Basketball Equipment
   • Court Game

How to pronounce basketball?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say basketball in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of basketball in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of basketball in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of basketball in a Sentence

1. Ralph Kiner:

   George Shinn. He's the owner of the Charlotte Harlots basketball team.

2. Jim Boeheim:

   The committee chose to ignore the efforts which I have undertaken over the past 37 years to promote an atmosphere of compliance within the men's basketball program, instead, they chose to focus on the rogue and secretive actions of a former employee of the local YMCA and my former director of basketball operations in order to impose an unprecedented series of penalties upon the university and the men's basketball program.

3. Charles Briscoe:

   The statement was about social injustice and racism, yet everybody is still talking about whether basketball should be played. He isn't saying that basketball shouldn't be. He's just saying that you should not be taking attention away from what's going on in the country to talk about basketball. Basketball is just a sport, at the end of the day. But what's going on with people dying in the streets, that's something real. That statement, it had nothing to do with sports. It had everything to do with racism and social injustice.

4. Braison Cyrus:

   It’s embarrassing. Very. But, I got to meet Clyde Drexler! He was very nice. He signed my card and a basketball.

5. John Wooden:

   I always tried to make clear that basketball is not the ultimate. It is of small importance in comparison to the total life we live. There is only one kind of life that truly wins, and that is the one that places faith in the hands of the Savior. Until that is done, we are on an aimless course that runs in circles and goes nowhere.

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