softball
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soft·ball
(sôft′bôl′, sŏft′-)n.
1.
a. A variation of baseball played on a smaller diamond with a larger, softer ball that is pitched underhand.
b. The ball used in this game.
2. A question, especially one posed during an interview or public forum, that is easy to answer and does not cause embarrassment: "Softballs aside, there have been a number of times when audience members asked substantive questions" (Elisabeth Bumiller).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
softball
(ˈsɒftˌbɔːl)n
1. (Baseball) a variation of baseball using a larger softer ball, pitched underhand
2. (Baseball) the ball used
3. (Cookery) cookery the stage in the boiling of a sugar syrup at which it may be rubbed into balls after dipping in cold water
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
soft•ball
(ˈsɔftˌbɔl, ˈsɒft-)n.
1. a form of baseball played on a smaller diamond with a larger and softer ball.
2. the ball itself.
[1925–30]
soft′ball•er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Noun | 1. |  softball - ball used in playing softball ball - round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games; "the ball travelled 90 mph on his serve"; "the mayor threw out the first ball"; "the ball rolled into the corner pocket" |
| 2. |  softball - a game closely resembling baseball that is played on a smaller diamond and with a ball that is larger and softerbaseball, baseball game - a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs; "he played baseball in high school"; "there was a baseball game on every empty lot"; "there was a desire for National League ball in the area"; "play ball!" first baseman, first sacker - (baseball) the person who plays first base infielder - (baseball) a person who plays a position in the infield outfielder - (baseball) a person who plays in the outfield pinch hitter - (baseball) a substitute for the regular batter hurler, pitcher, twirler - (baseball) the person who does the pitching; "our pitcher has a sore arm" second baseman, second sacker - (baseball) the person who plays second base third baseman, third sacker - (baseball) the person who plays third base hardball - baseball as distinguished from softball |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
softball
[ˈsɒftbɔːl] n (= game) → softball m
(= ball) → balle f de softballsoft-boiled egg n → œuf m à la coquesoft centre n (British) → chocolat m fourrésoft-centred [ˌsɒftˈsɛntərd] adj (British) [chocolate, boiled sweet] → fourré(e)soft cheese n → fromage m à pâte mollesoft contact lens n → lentille f de contact souplesoft-core [ˌsɒftˈkɔːr] adj [pornography] → soft invsoft drink n → boisson f gazeuse, soda msoft drug n → drogue f doucesoft drugs npl → drogues fpl douces
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995