meatball

[ meet-bawl ]

noun

1. Cooking. a small ball of ground meat, especially beef, often mixed with breadcrumbs, seasonings, etc., before cooking.
2. Slang. an awkward, clumsy, or ineffectual person.

meatball

/ ˈmiːtˌbɔːl /

noun

1. minced beef, shaped into a ball before cooking
2. slang.
   a stupid or boring person

Word History and Origins

Origin of meatball¹

First recorded in 1830–40; meat + ball ¹

Example Sentences

For this reason, food manufacturers will usually develop plant-based meat alternatives that look like classic meat dishes – hamburgers, meatballs, sausages or nuggets.

From Salon

Pasta with meatballs was available, as was Italian wine.

From Los Angeles Times

For example, it would incorporate unfamiliar cuts of meats into meatloaf or meatballs or grind crickets into flour for cookies or protein bars.

From Salon

Besides her duties in the kitchen, where onions and meatballs were sizzling on the stovetop on a recent Wednesday, Darby is also on a team focused on mental health advocacy.

From Los Angeles Times

I’m looking at a meatball — and it has two eyeballs on it, like Stick Stickly from Nickelodeon.

From Los Angeles Times