bowl
bowl Lexical Profile
bowl Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A round, deep dish or basin typically used for holding food or liquid.
"She poured the hot soup into a ceramic bowl and garnished it with fresh herbs."
The rounded, hollow part of an object, such as the curved end of a spoon or the chamber of a tobacco pipe.
"He tapped the bowl of his pipe against the ashtray to empty the burnt tobacco."
A large, bowl-shaped building, stadium, or natural geographical amphitheater used for sporting events or concerts.
"Thousands of fans filled the massive bowl to watch the championship football game."
• verb
To roll a heavy ball along a flat surface, especially as the primary action in the games of tenpin bowling or lawn bowls.
"He bowled a perfect strike in the final frame to win the tournament."
British To propel the ball with a straight arm towards the batsman (in the sport of cricket).
"The fast bowler stepped up to the crease and bowled a devastating delivery."
To move rapidly and smoothly, often referring to a vehicle or person traveling with momentum.
"We were bowling along the country lane in her vintage convertible when it suddenly started to rain."
Word Nuance & Usage
The word functions as two distinct homonyms with different origins: one referring to a dish, and another referring to a rolling ball or the game of bowling. It is also a homophone with 'bole' (the trunk of a tree) and 'boll' (a seed pod).
• Rhymes for bowl
Word Origin & Etymology
The noun referring to a dish derives from Old English 'bolla' (pot, cup, bowl), of Germanic origin. The verb and the noun related to the sport of bowling derive from Old French 'boule' (ball), originating from Latin 'bulla' (bubble, round object).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.