WordGarden.iohandball
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /hˈændbɔːl/
US
- /ˈhændˌbɔl/
Meanings
Noun
a team sport in which players throw a ball into the opposing goal
a court game in which players hit a small ball against a wall with the hand
an illegal touch of the ball with the hand or arm in soccer or similar sports
Verb
to touch, hit, or pass a ball with the hand in a sport
Beyond the definition
Handball has more than one common meaning. Most often, it means team handball, a fast sport in which players pass, dribble, and throw a ball to score goals. In soccer, a "handball" is when a player touches the ball with the hand or arm in a way that breaks the rules. In some places, especially in the U.S. and Ireland, it can also mean a wall game in which players hit a small ball against a wall with their hands.
Handball can refer to several sports or to a rule break in another sport. The best-known meaning worldwide is team handball, an Olympic game in which two teams of seven players try to throw a ball into the other team's goal. Players run, pass, dribble, and jump as they attack and defend, and the game moves very quickly.
The word is also used for ball-and-wall games such as American handball and Gaelic handball, where players hit a small ball against a wall with their hands. In soccer, "handball" means a foul or offense in which a player handles the ball illegally. So the exact meaning depends on context: it may describe a full team sport, a wall game played with the hands, or a soccer foul.
Examples
- 1
University team
She plays handball for her university team.
- 2
Live sport
Handball is much faster to watch in person than on TV.
- 3
Soccer foul
The referee gave a penalty for handball just before halftime.
- Domainin soccer, handball
illegally touching the ball with your hand or arm
See also
Similar
- team handball
- Olympic handball
Shades of meaning
- indoor handball
- beach handball
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- play handball
- handball match
- handball court
Explore
- goalkeeper
- throw-in
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- handballnoun