Definition

1. Noun:
   • The white ball in billiards or pool: The cue ball is the solid white ball that a player strikes directly with the cue stick to hit other balls on the table.

Usage

• The cue ball is the only ball a player is permitted to strike directly with the cue tip.
• In games like eight-ball or snooker, the primary objective involves using the cue ball to pot (or pocket) the object balls.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "To have control of the cue ball": To be skilled at positioning the cue ball for the next shot, which is a key aspect of advanced play.
  • Her strategy relies on excellent control of the cue ball.

Variants and Related Words

• Object ball (n): Any ball on the table that is not the cue ball; the ball a player aims to hit with the cue ball.
• Cue (n): The tapered stick used to strike the cue ball.

Synonyms

• White ball (informal, context-specific).
• Striker (used in some rule sets, like English billiards).

Related Phrases

• Cue ball in hand: A rule situation where a player can place the cue ball anywhere on the table after a foul by the opponent.
  • After the foul, he had cue ball in hand behind the head string.
• Cue ball deflection/squirt: A physical phenomenon where the cue ball does not travel exactly in the direction the cue is aimed due to side spin.
  • He compensates for cue ball squirt on his shots.

Noun

1. the ball that the billiard player or pool player strikes with his cue