Basketball

All 20 words in Basketball

• 

  basket/ˈbæskɪt/

  n. in basketball, the metal hoop with a net through which players score, and the score itself; n. a container made of woven cane or plastic, used for carrying things.

• basketball player

  A person who plays basketball, either for fun or as a sport or profession.

  The basketball player practiced free throws before the game.

• 

  block/blɑːk/v

  n. in volleyball and basketball, a move in which a player jumps with the arms up to stop the opponents' shot; v. to stop something from passing.

• center circle

  n. the circle marked at the middle of a basketball court, where play starts with a jump ball; also the circle at the middle of a football pitch, where play starts with a kick-off.

  The referee placed the ball in the center circle before kickoff.

• center forward

  n. in football, an attacking player in the middle of the front line whose main job is to score; in basketball, a player who can play both the centre and the forward positions.

  The coach moved the center forward closer to the goal to create more scoring chances.

• double dribbling

  A basketball violation that occurs when a player stops dribbling and then starts again, or dribbles with both hands at the same time.

  The referee called double dribbling when Maya stopped her dribble and then started dribbling again.

• dunk/dʌŋk/

  v. in basketball, to jump and push the ball down through the hoop with your hand; v. to dip food briefly into a drink.

• free throw

  In basketball, a free throw is an unopposed shot taken from the free-throw line as a reward for certain fouls.

  After the foul, Maya made the free throw and gave her team the lead.

• goaltending

  In basketball, goaltending is a violation in which a player touches the ball while it is falling toward the basket or is above the rim.

  The referee called goaltending when the defender touched the ball as it was dropping toward the rim.

• jump shot

  A basketball shot taken while the player is jumping.

  She made a jump shot from just inside the three-point line.

• lay-up

  A basketball shot made by jumping close to the basket and placing the ball into it.

  She scored an easy lay-up after receiving a pass under the basket.

• personal foul

  A personal foul is a rule violation in basketball involving illegal physical contact with an opponent.

  The referee called a personal foul when the defender pushed the shooter.

• power forward

  In basketball, a power forward is a player who usually plays near the basket, rebounds, defends, and scores from inside or mid-range.

  The coach moved her from center to power forward because of her strong shooting.

• rebound/ˈɹibaʊnd/

  n. in basketball, catching the ball after a missed shot bounces off the backboard or the rim; n. a rise in value after a fall; v. to bounce back.

• restricted area

  n. in basketball, the marked half-circle under the basket where a defender cannot draw a charging foul; n. an area that only certain people may enter.

  Visitors must not enter the restricted area without permission.

• scoreboard

  A large board that shows the current score in a game or sport.

• shooting guard

  In basketball, a shooting guard is a player whose main roles are scoring from the outside and helping the team defend.

  The coach moved her to shooting guard because she was an accurate three-point shooter.

• 

  slam dunk

  n. in basketball, a powerful shot in which a player jumps and pushes the ball down through the hoop; n. something that is certain to succeed.

  With her experience and strong proposal, winning the contract was a slam dunk.

• small forward

  In basketball, a small forward is a player who usually plays both near the basket and on the perimeter, combining scoring, rebounding, and defense.

  The small forward scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

• traveling violation

  In basketball, a violation called when a player moves illegally with the ball, for example jumping and landing again without passing or shooting.

  The referee called a jumping violation when Maya came down with the ball still in her hands.