Definition

1. Noun:

   • A round, open-top container: A deep, typically round dish used for holding, mixing, or serving food and liquids.
   • The contents of such a container: The quantity of something held in a bowl.
   • A concave, rounded part: An object or geographical feature with a hollow, rounded shape.
   • A large stadium: A large, often open-air structure used for sports or entertainment.
   • A heavy ball: A large, weighted ball with finger holes, used in the sport of bowling.
   • The act of bowling: The action of rolling a ball in games like bowling or cricket.

2. Verb:

   • To roll a ball: To participate in the game of bowling by rolling a ball towards pins.
   • To move smoothly and rapidly: To move quickly and effortlessly, as if rolling.
   • In cricket: To throw the ball toward the batsman.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • She ate cereal from a large bowl. (Container)
  • He ate a bowl of soup for lunch. (Contents)
  • The team played in the Rose Bowl. (Stadium)
  • The bowl of the pipe was made of briar. (Concave part)
  • He picked up his bowl and prepared to throw a strike. (Bowling ball)

• Verb:

  • They bowl every Tuesday night in a league. (Play bowling)
  • The car bowled along the empty highway. (Move rapidly)
  • The fast bowler bowled a perfect yorker. (Deliver a ball in cricket)

Advanced Usage

• "to bowl someone over":
  • Literally: To knock someone down.

    • The cyclist was bowled over by the car.
  • Figuratively: To greatly surprise or impress someone.

    • Her performance bowled the critics over.

Variants and Related Words

• Bowler (n): A person who bowls; also, a type of hat.
• Bowling (n): The sport or action of playing bowls or ten-pin bowling.
• Bowling alley (n): A long, narrow lane for playing ten-pin bowling.
• Bowls (n): A lawn game played with biased balls.

Synonyms

• Dish: A shallow container for food.
• Basin: A wide, round open container.
• Arena: A large, enclosed area for sports or shows.
• Roll: To move by turning over and over.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Bowl along: To move quickly and smoothly.
  • The new train bowls along at incredible speeds.
• Bowl out (Cricket): To dismiss a batsman by hitting the wicket with the ball.
  • The spinner bowled him out with a clever delivery.

Related Idioms

• "Life is just a bowl of cherries": An expression meaning life is pleasant and easy (often used ironically).
  • He thinks life is just a bowl of cherries, but he has never faced real hardship.

Noun

1. the act of rolling something (as the ball in bowling)
2. a small round container that is open at the top for holding tobacco
3. a wooden ball (with flattened sides so that it rolls on a curved course) used in the game of lawn bowling
4. a large ball with finger holes used in the sport of bowling
5. a large structure for open-air sports or entertainments
6. the quantity contained in a bowl
7. a dish that is round and open at the top for serving foods
8. a concave shape with an open top
9. a round vessel that is open at the top; used chiefly for holding food or liquids;

Verb

1. engage in the sport of bowling
   • My parents like to bowl on Friday nights
2. hurl a cricket ball from one end of the pitch towards the batsman at the other end
3. roll (a ball)