noun
basketball
A game in which teams score by throwing a ball through raised hoops.
The teams play basketball on the outdoor court after school.
Etymology
The game’s name recalls the baskets originally used as goals. Modern hoops preserve the action of sending the ball into a raised target to score.
More examples
- She practices her basketball shooting every afternoon.
- The gym hosts a youth basketball tournament.
- He follows college basketball throughout the season.
Similar words
- hoops
- An informal name for the same sport.