Ball vs. Sphere — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 27, 2023
A ball can refer to a round object or a social event, while a sphere is strictly a perfectly round three-dimensional geometrical object. The term "ball" can be used informally, whereas "sphere" is more precise.
Difference Between Ball and Sphere
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Key Differences
Both terms describe round objects, but their usage and contexts differ. A ball can describe anything from toys to events, while a sphere specifically refers to a geometric shape.
The term "ball" is versatile. It might refer to a round object used in sports like soccer or basketball. In another context, "ball" might mean a formal gathering or dance event. Its flexibility in English can lead to various meanings based on context.
In contrast, "sphere" has a more rigid definition. It is a three-dimensional geometric shape where all points are equidistant from a central point. Think of the Earth (though it's not a perfect sphere) or a marble as practical examples.
While a basketball or a baseball can be referred to as a "ball," they can also be described as "spherical" because of their shape. However, not all balls are perfect spheres, given the potential variation in their shapes.
While both "ball" and "sphere" can refer to round objects, "ball" has broader applications in both objects and events, and "sphere" is a term rooted in geometry and mathematics.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A round object or event.
A perfect 3D geometric shape.
Usage
Informal and versatile.
Strictly geometrical.
Examples
Soccer ball, dance event.
Earth, marble.
Related Terms
Ballroom, football.
Hemisphere, spherical.
Context
Sports, events, descriptions.
Science, math, precise geometry.
Compare with Definitions
Ball
A round object used in games or sports.
She kicked the ball into the goal.
Sphere
A three-dimensional round shape where all points on the surface are equidistant from the center.
The globe is a representation of the Earth in sphere form.
Ball
A ball is a round object (usually spherical, but can sometimes be ovoid) with various uses. It is used in ball games, where the play of the game follows the state of the ball as it is hit, kicked or thrown by players.
Sphere
A field or area of activity or expertise.
He's well-known in the sphere of biomedical research.
Ball
A solid or hollow spherical or egg-shaped object that is kicked, thrown, or hit in a game
A cricket ball
Sphere
A social class or level of society.
She moved in the upper spheres of society.
Ball
(in cricket) a delivery of the ball by the bowler to the batsman
His half century came off only forty balls
Sphere
A sphere (from Greek σφαῖρα—sphaira, "globe, ball") is a geometrical object in three-dimensional space that is the surface of a ball (viz., analogous to the circular objects in two dimensions, where a "circle" circumscribes its "disk"). Like a circle in a two-dimensional space, a sphere is defined mathematically as the set of points that are all at the same distance r from a given point in a three-dimensional space.
Ball
The rounded protuberant part of the foot at the base of the big toe.
Sphere
A round solid figure, or its surface, with every point on its surface equidistant from its centre.
Ball
A formal social gathering for dancing
Anne danced with the captain at a fancy-dress ball
A ball gown
Sphere
An area of activity, interest, or expertise; a section of society or an aspect of life distinguished and unified by a particular characteristic
Political reforms to match those in the economic sphere
Ball
Squeeze or form (something) into a rounded shape
Robert balled up his napkin and threw it on to his plate
Sphere
Enclose in or as if in a sphere
Mourners, sphered by their dark garb
Ball
Have sexual intercourse with.
Sphere
(Mathematics) A three-dimensional surface, all points of which are equidistant from a fixed point.
Ball
(of a flower) fail to open properly, decaying in the half-open bud.
Sphere
A spherical object or figure.
Ball
A spherical object or entity
A steel ball.
Sphere
A celestial body, such as a planet or star.
Ball
A spherical or almost spherical body
A ball of flame.
Sphere
The sky, appearing as a hemisphere to an observer
The sphere of the heavens.
Ball
Any of various movable and round or oblong objects used in various athletic activities and games.
Sphere
Any of a series of concentric, transparent, revolving globes that together were once thought to contain the moon, sun, planets, and stars.
Ball
Such an object moving, thrown, hit, or kicked in a particular manner
A low ball.
A fair ball.
Sphere
A range or extent of knowledge, interest, or activity
A problem that falls within the sphere of biophysics.
Ball
A game, especially baseball or basketball, played with such an object.
Sphere
A social level or part of society or group
Knew few people beyond his partner's sphere.
Ball
A pitched baseball that does not pass through the strike zone and is not swung at by the batter.
Sphere
A range of power or influence
Within the sphere of the empire.
Ball
A solid spherical or pointed projectile, such as one shot from a cannon.
Sphere
To form into a sphere.
Ball
Projectiles of this kind considered as a group.
Sphere
To put in or within a sphere.
Ball
A rounded part or protuberance, especially of the body
The ball of the foot.
Sphere
(mathematics) A regular three-dimensional object in which every cross-section is a circle; the figure described by the revolution of a circle about its diameter . Category:en:Surfaces
Ball
A testicle.
Sphere
A spherical physical object; a globe or ball.
Ball
Balls Courage, especially when reckless.
Sphere
The apparent outer limit of space; the edge of the heavens, imagined as a hollow globe within which celestial bodies appear to be embedded.
Ball
Balls Great presumptuousness.
Sphere
Any of the concentric hollow transparent globes formerly believed to rotate around the Earth, and which carried the heavenly bodies; there were originally believed to be eight, and later nine and ten; friction between them was thought to cause a harmonious sound (the music of the spheres).
Ball
A formal gathering for social dancing.
Sphere
(mythology) An area of activity for a planet; or by extension, an area of influence for a god, hero etc.
Ball
(Informal) An extremely enjoyable time or experience
We had a ball during our vacation.
Sphere
(figuratively) The region in which something or someone is active; one's province, domain.
Ball
To form into a ball.
Sphere
(geometry) The set of all points in three-dimensional Euclidean space (or n-dimensional space, in topology) that are a fixed distance from a fixed point .
Ball
Vulgar Slang To have sexual intercourse with.
Sphere
(logic) The extension of a general conception, or the totality of the individuals or species to which it may be applied.
Ball
To become formed into a ball.
Sphere
(transitive) To place in a sphere, or among the spheres; to ensphere.
Ball
Vulgar Slang To have sexual intercourse.
Sphere
(transitive) To make round or spherical; to perfect.
Ball
A solid or hollow sphere, or roughly spherical mass.
A ball of spittle; a fecal ball
Sphere
A body or space contained under a single surface, which in every part is equally distant from a point within called its center.
Ball
A quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape.
A ball of wool; a ball of twine
Sphere
Hence, any globe or globular body, especially a celestial one, as the sun, a planet, or the earth.
Of celestial bodies, first the sun,A mighty sphere, he framed.
Ball
(mathematics) Homologue or analogue of a disk in the Euclidean plane.
Sphere
The apparent surface of the heavens, which is assumed to be spherical and everywhere equally distant, in which the heavenly bodies appear to have their places, and on which the various astronomical circles, as of right ascension and declination, the equator, ecliptic, etc., are conceived to be drawn; an ideal geometrical sphere, with the astronomical and geographical circles in their proper positions on it.
Ball
(mathematics) In 3-dimensional Euclidean space, the volume bounded by a sphere.
Sphere
The extension of a general conception, or the totality of the individuals or species to which it may be applied.
Ball
(mathematics) The set of points in a metric space of any number of dimensions lying within a given distance (the radius) of a given point.
Sphere
Circuit or range of action, knowledge, or influence; compass; province; employment; place of existence.
To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in 't.
Taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and inclosing her in a sphere by herself.
Each in his hidden sphere of joy or woeOur hermit spirits dwell.
Ball
(mathematics) The set of points in a topological space lying within some open set containing a given point.
Sphere
Rank; order of society; social positions.
Ball
A solid, spherical nonexplosive missile for a cannon, rifle, gun, etc.
Sphere
An orbit, as of a star; a socket.
Ball
A jacketed non-expanding bullet, typically of military origin.
Sphere
To place in a sphere, or among the spheres; to insphere.
The glorious planet SolIn noble eminence enthroned and spheredAmidst the other.
Ball
Such bullets collectively.
Sphere
To form into roundness; to make spherical, or spheral; to perfect.
Ball
A roundish, protuberant portion of some part of the body.
The ball of the thumb
Sphere
A particular environment or walk of life;
His social sphere is limited
It was a closed area of employment
He's out of my orbit
Ball
(anatomy) The front of the bottom of the foot, just behind the toes.
Sphere
Any spherically shaped artifact
Ball
The globe; the earthly sphere.
Sphere
The geographical area in which one nation is very influential
Ball
An object that is the focus of many sports and games, in which it may be thrown, caught, kicked, bounced, rolled, chased, retrieved, hit with an instrument, spun, etc., usually roughly spherical but whose size, weight, bounciness, colour, etc. differ according to the game
Sphere
A particular aspect of life or activity;
He was helpless in an important sector of his life
Ball
Any sport or game involving a ball; its play, literally or figuratively.
Sphere
A solid figure bounded by a spherical surface (including the space it encloses)
Ball
A pitch that falls outside of the strike zone.
Sphere
A three-dimensional closed surface such that every point on the surface is equidistant from the center
Ball
An opportunity to launch the pinball into play.
If you get to a million points, you get another ball.
Sphere
The apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
Ball
A single delivery by the bowler, six of which make up an over.
Sphere
A celestial body.
Ancient astronomers believed the stars were fixed on spheres.
Ball
A pass; a kick of the football towards a teammate.
Sphere
A group or community with shared interests.
The literary sphere was abuzz with news of her latest novel.
Ball
A testicle.
Ball
(in the plural) Nonsense.
That’s a load of balls, and you know it!
Ball
(in the plural) Courage.
I doubt he’s got the balls to tell you off.
Ball
A leather-covered cushion, fastened to a handle called a ballstock; formerly used by printers for inking the form, then superseded by the roller.
Ball
A large pill, a form in which medicine was given to horses; a bolus.
Ball
One thousand US dollars.
Ball
A formal dance.
Ball
(informal) A very enjoyable time.
I had a ball at that concert.
Ball
A competitive event among young African-American and Latin American LGBTQ+ people in which prizes are awarded for drag and similar performances. See ball culture.
Ball
(transitive) To form or wind into a ball.
To ball cotton
Ball
(metalworking) To heat in a furnace and form into balls for rolling.
Ball
To have sexual intercourse with.
Ball
(ambitransitive) To gather balls which cling to the feet, as of damp snow or clay; to gather into balls.
The horse balls
The snow balls
Ball
To be hip or cool.
Ball
(university slang) To reject from a fraternity or sorority. (blackball)
Ball
To play basketball.
Ball
(transitive) To punish by affixing a ball and chain.
Ball
(Australian rules football) An appeal by the crowd for holding the ball against a tackled player. This is heard almost any time an opposition player is tackled, without regard to whether the rules about "prior opportunity" to dispose of the ball are fulfilled.
Ball
Any round or roundish body or mass; a sphere or globe; as, a ball of twine; a ball of snow.
Ball
A spherical body of any substance or size used to play with, as by throwing, knocking, kicking, etc.
Ball
A general name for games in which a ball is thrown, kicked, or knocked. See Baseball, and Football.
Ball
Any solid spherical, cylindrical, or conical projectile of lead or iron, to be discharged from a firearm; as, a cannon ball; a rifle ball; - often used collectively; as, powder and ball. Spherical balls for the smaller firearms are commonly called bullets.
Ball
A flaming, roundish body shot into the air; a case filled with combustibles intended to burst and give light or set fire, or to produce smoke or stench; as, a fire ball; a stink ball.
Ball
A leather-covered cushion, fastened to a handle called a ballstock; - formerly used by printers for inking the form, but now superseded by the roller.
Ball
A roundish protuberant portion of some part of the body; as, the ball of the thumb; the ball of the foot.
Ball
A large pill, a form in which medicine is commonly given to horses; a bolus.
Ball
The globe or earth.
Move round the dark terrestrial ball.
Ball
A pitched ball, not struck at by the batter, which fails to pass over the home plate at a height not greater than the batter's shoulder nor less than his knee (i.e. it is outside the strike zone). If the pitcher pitches four balls before three strikes are called, the batter advances to first base, and the action of pitching four balls is called a walk.
Ball
A testicle; usually used in the plural.
Ball
Courage; nerve.
Ball
A social assembly for the purpose of dancing; - usually applied to an occasion lavish or formal.
Ball
A very enjoyable time; as, we had a ball at the wedding.
Ball
To gather balls which cling to the feet, as of damp snow or clay; to gather into balls; as, the horse balls; the snow balls.
Ball
To heat in a furnace and form into balls for rolling.
Ball
To form or wind into a ball; as, to ball cotton.
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
Ball
A solid ball shot by a musket;
They had to carry a ramrod as well as powder and ball
Ball
An object with a spherical shape;
A ball of fire
Ball
The people assembled at a lavish formal dance;
The ball was already emptying out before the fire alarm sounded
Ball
One of the two male reproductive glands that produce spermatozoa and secrete androgens;
She kicked him in the balls and got away
Ball
A spherical object used as a plaything;
He played with his rubber ball in the bathtub
Ball
United States comedienne best known as the star of a popular television program (1911-1989)
Ball
A compact mass;
A ball of mud caught him on the shoulder
Ball
A lavish formal dance
Ball
A more or less rounded anatomical body or mass; ball of the human foot or ball at the base of the thumb;
He stood on the balls of his feet
Ball
A ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of 9 players; teams take turns at bat trying to score run;
He played baseball in high school
There was a baseball game on every empy lot
There was a desire for National League ball in the area
Play ball!
Ball
A pitch that is not in the strike zone;
He threw nine straight balls before the manager yanked him
Ball
Form into a ball by winding or rolling;
Ball wool
Ball
A formal social gathering for dancing.
They dressed elegantly for the annual ball.
Ball
A compact mass of a substance.
She formed the dough into small balls.
Ball
The rounded part of the foot.
He stood on the balls of his feet.
Ball
A bullet or projectile for a firearm.
The musket ball was found at the battlefield.
Common Curiosities
Can "sphere" refer to a dance event?
No, only "ball" can refer to a dance or social gathering.
Is every ball a sphere?
No, while many balls are spherical, not every ball is a perfect sphere.
Is Earth a perfect sphere?
No, Earth is an oblate spheroid, but it's often referred to as a sphere for simplicity.
Do the terms have any shared meanings?
Both can describe round objects, but their contexts and specific meanings differ.
Can "ball" be used in mathematics?
Informally, yes. But "sphere" is the more precise mathematical term.
Can "ball" refer to a shape in geometry?
Informally, yes. But in strict geometry, "sphere" is the preferred term.
What's the root of the word "sphere"?
It comes from the Greek word "sphaira," meaning "globe" or "ball."
Can both terms be used as verbs?
"Ball" can (e.g., "ball up your fist"), but "sphere" is typically only a noun.
Can "ball" indicate a quantity of something?
Yes, like a ball of yarn or a ball of dough.
Can "sphere" indicate a level of society?
Yes, "sphere" can refer to a specific social class or segment.
Does every sphere have to be solid?
No, a sphere refers to the outer surface shape. It can be solid, hollow, or even gaseous.
Is a basketball a sphere?
It's spherical in shape, but minor imperfections mean it's not a perfect sphere.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
