ba l|lot pa|per (ballot papers ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] A ballot paper is a piece of paper on which you indicate your choice or opinion in an election or ballot.
ba l|lot rig|ging also ballot-rigging N‑UNCOUNT Ballot rigging is the act of illegally changing the result of an election by producing a false record of the number of votes. □ The poll was widely discredited after allegations of ballot rigging.
ball|park /bɔː lpɑː r k/ (ballparks ) also ball park
1 N‑COUNT A ballpark is a park or stadium where baseball is played.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A ballpark figure or ballpark estimate is an approximate figure or estimate. □ I can't give you anything more than just sort of a ballpark figure. □ Ballpark estimates indicate a price tag of $90 million a month.
3 N‑SING If something such as an amount or claim is in the ballpark , it is approximately right, but not exact. [INFORMAL ] □ What about 20 billion? That's more in the ballpark.
4 N‑SING If you say that someone or something is in the ballpark , you mean that they are able to take part in a particular area of activity, especially because they are considered as good as others taking part. □ This puts them in the ballpark and makes them a major player.
ball|player /bɔː lple I ə r / (ballplayers ) also ball player N‑COUNT A ballplayer is a baseball player. [AM ]
ball|point /bɔː lpɔ I nt/ (ballpoints ) N‑COUNT A ballpoint or a ballpoint pen is a pen with a very small metal ball at the end which transfers the ink from the pen onto a surface.
ball|room /bɔː lruːm/ (ballrooms ) N‑COUNT A ballroom is a very large room that is used for dancing.
ba ll|room da nc|ing N‑UNCOUNT Ballroom dancing is a type of dancing in which a man and a woman dance together using fixed sequences of steps and movements.
balls /bɔː lz/ (ballses , ballsing , ballsed )
1 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that someone has balls , you mean that they have courage. [INFORMAL , RUDE , APPROVAL ] □ I never had the balls to do anything like this.
2 EXCLAM ; N‑UNCOUNT You can say ' balls ' or say that what someone says is balls when you think that it is stupid or wrong. [BRIT , INFORMAL , VERY RUDE , FEELINGS ] □ What complete and utter balls!
▸ balls up PHRASAL VERB If you balls up a task or activity, you do it very badly, making a lot of mistakes. [BRIT , INFORMAL , RUDE ] □ [V P n] You have single-handedly ballsed up the best opportunity we've had! □ [V n P ] I have no intention of letting you balls it up. [Also V P ]
ba lls-up (balls-ups ) N‑COUNT If you make a balls-up of something, you do it very badly and make a lot of mistakes. [BRIT , INFORMAL , RUDE ] □ He's made a real balls-up of this.
ballsy /bɔː lzi/ (ballsier , ballsiest ) ADJ You can describe a person or their behaviour as ballsy if you admire them because you think they are energetic and brave. [INFORMAL , APPROVAL ] □ …the most ballsy woman I know. □ …ballsy, gutsy live rap music.
bal|ly|hoo /bæ lihuː , [AM ] -huː/ (ballyhooing , ballyhooed )
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] You can use ballyhoo to refer to great excitement or anger about something, especially when you disapprove of it because you think it is unnecessary or exaggerated. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ They announced, amid much ballyhoo, that they had made a breakthrough.
2 VERB [usu passive] If you say that something is ballyhooed , you mean that there is a lot of excitement about it and people are claiming that it is very good. You use this word especially when you think the thing is not as exciting or good as people say. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [be V -ed] The power of red wine to counteract high cholesterol has been ballyhooed in the press. □ [V -ed] …the much-ballyhooed new Star Wars movie.
balm /bɑː m/ (balms )
1 N‑VAR Balm is a sweet-smelling oil that is obtained from some tropical trees and used to make creams that heal wounds or reduce pain.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] If you refer to something as balm , you mean that it makes you feel better. [APPROVAL ] □ The place is balm to the soul.
balmy /bɑː mi/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Balmy weather is fairly warm and pleasant. □ …a balmy summer's evening.
ba|lo|ney /bəloʊ ni/ N‑UNCOUNT If you say that an idea or statement is baloney , you disapprove of it and think it is foolish or wrong. [mainly AM , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ That's a load of baloney.
bal|sa /bɔː lsə/ N‑UNCOUNT Balsa or balsa wood is a very light wood from a South American tree.
bal|sam /bɔː lsəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Balsam is a sweet-smelling oil that is obtained from certain trees or bushes and used to make medicines and perfumes.
bal|sam|ic vin|egar /bɔːlsæ m I k v I n I gə r / N‑UNCOUNT Balsamic vinegar is a type of vinegar which tastes sweet and is made from grape juice.
bal|ti /bɔː lti/ (baltis ) N‑VAR A balti is a vegetable or meat dish of Indian origin which is cooked and served in a bowl-shaped pan.
bal|us|trade /bæ ləstre I d, [AM ] -stre I d/ (balustrades ) N‑COUNT A balustrade is a railing or wall on a balcony or staircase.
bam|boo /bæmbuː / (bamboos ) N‑VAR Bamboo is a tall tropical plant with hard, hollow stems. The young shoots of the plant can be eaten and the stems are used to make furniture. □ …huts with walls of bamboo. □ …bamboo shoots.
bam|boo|zle /bæmbuː z ə l/ (bamboozles , bamboozling , bamboozled ) VERB To bamboozle someone means to confuse and often trick them. □ [V n + into ] He bamboozled Mercer into defeat. □ [be V -ed] He was bamboozled by con men.