Meaning & use
ball bearing
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountabletechnical
A machine part made of a ring of small steel balls held between two rings, which lets one part turn smoothly against another.
Grammar: Countable: one ball bearing, two ball bearings; people also say ball bearings for the whole part.
Patterns
- a ball bearing in something
The skateboard wheels spin quickly because each has a ball bearing inside.
The mechanic replaced a worn ball bearing in the fan motor.
Without a ball bearing, the heavy shaft would grind against its housing.
nouncountable
One of the small hard metal balls in such a part, which can also be used alone in other devices.
Grammar: Often plural and used for the loose balls themselves: a handful of ball bearings.
Patterns
- a handful of ball bearings
A handful of ball bearings rolled across the floor when the box fell.
He used a ball bearing as the marble in the homemade maze.
The toy contains a loose ball bearing that rattles when shaken.
Word forms
| plural | ball bearings |
|---|
Common combinations
- steel ball bearing
- A steel ball bearing is strong and does not wear quickly.
- worn ball bearing
- A worn ball bearing makes a grinding noise.
- lubricate the ball bearings
- Remember to lubricate the ball bearings every few months.
- ball bearing race
- The ball bearing race holds the balls in place.
- replace a ball bearing
- We had to replace a ball bearing in the wheel hub.
- smooth as a ball bearing
- After the repair, the door swung as smooth as a ball bearing.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bearing
- Bearing is the general term for any part that reduces friction between moving parts, and a ball bearing is one specific type.
- roller bearing
- A roller bearing uses cylinders instead of balls and can carry heavier loads.
- bushing
- A bushing is a plain sleeve with no rolling balls, so it creates more friction than a ball bearing.
Word family
Commonly confused: ball bearing or bearing? ball bearing or baring?
ball bearing vs bearing
A bearing can also mean the direction of something on a compass, so context shows which meaning is intended.
ball bearing vs baring
Baring means uncovering or showing, and has a different spelling and meaning from bearing.
Practice
What is the main job of a ball bearing in a machine?
Choose one answer.
Ball bearings let parts turn smoothly by reducing friction. They do not store power or cool an engine.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ball bearing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.