Collins English-English Dictionary

bowl [bəυl]

1. 1. n a round container open at the top, used for holding liquid, keeping fruit, serving food, etc

2. 2. n bowlful the amount a bowl will hold

3. 3. n the rounded or hollow part of an object, esp of a spoon or tobacco pipe

4. 4. n any container shaped like a bowl, such as a sink or lavatory

5. 5. n [chiefly US] a bowl-shaped building or other structure, such as a football stadium or amphitheatre

6. 6. n a bowl-shaped depression of the land surface - See also dust bowl

7. 7. n [literary] a drinking cup

8. 8. n intoxicating drink

9. 9. n [Etymology] Old English bolla; related to Old Norse bolli, Old Saxon bollo

bowl [bəυl]

1. 1. n a wooden ball used in the game of bowls, having flattened sides, one side usually being flatter than the other in order to make it run on a curved course

2. 2. vi. bowl out to dismiss (a batsman) by delivering a ball that breaks his wicket

3. 3. n a large heavy ball with holes for gripping with the fingers and thumb, used in tenpin bowling

4. 4. vb to roll smoothly or cause to roll smoothly, esp by throwing underarm along the ground

5. 5. vi. [intr; usually foll by along] to move easily and rapidly, as in a car

6. 6. vi. [cricket] to send (a ball) down the pitch from one's hand towards the batsman, keeping the arm straight while doing so

7. 7. vi. [intr] to play bowls or tenpin bowling

8. 8. vt. [tr] (in tenpin bowling) to score (a specified amount)

   he bowled 120

9. 9. vt. See also bowl over bowls

10. 10. vt. [Etymology] C15: from French boule, ultimately from Latin bulla bubble