basketball

Definition of basketball in English English dictionary: The particular kind of ball used in the sport of basketball; A sport in which two opposing teams of five players strive to put a ball through a hoop; a game played on a court by two opposing teams of 5 players; points are scored by throwing the basketball through an elevated horizontal hoop an inflated ball used in playing basketball; {i} large inflated ball used in the game of basketball; Basketball is a game in which two teams of five players each try to score goals by throwing a large ball through a circular net fixed to a metal ring at each end of the court; {i} ball game in which two opposing teams must try and score points by throwing the ball into their opponent's basket; A basketball is a large ball which is used in the game of basketball. Court game between two teams of five players. They score by tossing, or "shooting," an inflated ball through a raised hoop, or "basket," located in their opponent's end of the court. A goal is worth two points, three if shot from outside a specified limit. A free throw (worth one point) is awarded to any player fouled (through unwarranted physical contact) by another, two free throws if the foul occurs during the act of shooting. Invented in 1891 by James A. Naismith in Springfield, Mass., U.S., basketball quickly became popular throughout the U.S., with games organized at the school and collegiate level for both sexes. Women first played the game under a markedly different set of rules. The game developed internationally at a slower pace. The first Olympic basketball contest was held in 1936, and the Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur (FIBA) introduced world championships for men and women in 1950 and 1953, respectively. In the U.S., high school and collegiate championship tournaments are traditionally held in March and generate considerable excitement. A men's professional league was organized in 1898 but did not gain much of a following until 1949, when it was reconstituted as the National Basketball Association (NBA). The first women's professional leagues in the U.S. emerged during the 1970s but failed after a year or two. The current Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), owned by the NBA, was organized in 1997. Club and professional basketball outside of the U.S. developed rapidly in the latter part of the 20th century. A Basketball Hall of Fame is located in Springfield; overtime period; roundball
basketball court: A concreted area outside on which the game of basketball is played
basketball courts: plural form of basketball court
basketball hoop: The hoop, holding a string net, through which the basketball must be placed to score
basketball hoops: plural form of basketball hoop
basketball player: A person who plays basketball, especially professionally
basketball players: plural form of basketball player
basketball clinic: a meeting at which basketball players receive special evaluation and instruction
basketball coach: a coach of basketball players
basketball coach: one who trains basketball players, leader of a basketball team
basketball court: rectangular playing field with a raised basket at each end (designed for playing basketball)
basketball court: the court on which basketball is played
basketball equipment: sports equipment used in playing basketball
basketball game: team game played on a floor with a raised basket at either end through which a ball must be tossed
basketball league: a league of basketball teams
basketball play: a play executed by a basketball team
basketball player: person who plays the sport of basketball (especially professionally)
basketball player: an athlete who plays basketball
basketball score: the score in a basketball game
basketball season: the season when basketball is played
basketball shoes: sports shoes designed for basketball play, basketball sneakers
basketball shot: throwing the basketball toward the hoop; "his shot hit the rim and bounced out
basketball shot: throwing the basketball toward the hoop; "his shot hit the rim and bounced out"
basketball team: a team that plays basketball
basketball team: group of basketball players which play together
basketball tournament: series of basketball games leading to a final match (and championship, etc.)
basketball training: instruction in playing basketball
American Basketball League: ABL, one of the professional basketball leagues in the USA
Israel Basketball Association: body responsible for official basketball activity in Israel
National Basketball Association: the full name of the NBA. U.S. professional basketball league. It was formed in 1949 by the merger of two rival organizations, the National Basketball League (founded 1937) and the Basketball Association of America (1946). In 1976 the NBA was augmented by the absorption of four teams from the former American Basketball Association (founded 1967). The NBA membership is divided into two conferences, each with two divisions. The Eastern Conference consists of the Atlantic Division (Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, and Washington Wizards) and the Central Division (Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Hornets, and Toronto Raptors). The Western Conference consists of the Midwest Division (Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, and Utah Jazz) and the Pacific Division (Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, and Seattle SuperSonics)
Women's National Basketball Association: professional basketball league for women in the USA
a basketball: brownball
basketballs: plural of basketball
professional basketball: playing basketball for money
professional basketball: basketball that is played on a very high level; basketball players who earn their living solely from their sports activities
street basketball: {i} streetball, basketball played in playgrounds