the sport of american football – synonyms and related words | Macmillan Dictionary

Related words

backfield

noun

in football, the position behind the first line of players on a team

blitz

noun

a situation in football when a lot of players attack the quarterback who tries to throw the ball

blitz

verb

to attack the quarterback in a game of football

bootleg

noun

a series of movements in football when a quarterback pretends to give the ball to another player, but instead hides the ball and passes or moves it to the other side

bowl

noun

American used in the names of important football games, played at the end of the season between the most successful teams

carry

noun

the action when an offensive player runs with the ball in football

conversion kick

noun

in the game of football, an occasion when a ball is kicked over a high bar in order to score more points

end

noun

in football, the ends are the two players who play on the outside of the tackles, or the positions they play

end zone

noun

the area at the end of a football field where you have to take the ball in order to score points

field goal

noun

in football, a goal worth three points scored by kicking the ball over a pole called a crossbar

fullback

noun

in football, the offense position behind the quarterback, or a player in this position

gridiron

noun

American a field on which football is played

gridiron

noun

Americaninformal football

guard

noun

in football, a player who plays next to the center

halfback

noun

in football, the player next to the fullback and behind the front line at the start of a game

homecoming

noun

American a celebration once a year at schools and universities when alumni (=people who went to the school before) return for parties and a football game. Many schools have a homecoming parade and elect a homecoming king and homecoming queen.

huddle

verb

if football players huddle, they come together during the match in order to plan their next play

huddle

noun

a group that football players form during a game in order to discuss their next play

kicker

noun

American the player on a football team whose job is to kick the ball

linebacker

noun

in football, a player who is part of the team’s defense and plays from behind the front line of players

lineman

noun

in football, a player in the line of players closest to the other team

place kick

noun

a kick of the ball in rugby or football while the ball is on the ground or being held by a player

punt

noun

the action of dropping a ball from your hands, and kicking it in the air, especially in the game of football

punt

verb

to drop a ball from your hands and kick it, especially in the game of football

QB

abbreviation

quarterback

quarterback

noun

an important player in the sport of football who gives instructions to other players

quarterback

verb

to play in the position of quarterback in football

razzle-dazzle

noun

informalAmerican a complicated series of actions that someone does in order to trick their opponent, especially in football

receiver

noun

a player on a football team who catches the ball when it is thrown by the quarterback

the Rose Bowl

a football game played each year on January 1st in Pasadena, California. Before the game there is a Rose Parade, which many people like to watch on television on New Year’s morning.

rush

verb

to carry the ball forward in the game of football

rush

noun

in football, an attempt to move the ball by running with it

sack

noun

an occasion when someone pushes down the quarterback in the sport of football

sack

verb

to push down the quarterback in the sport of football

safety

noun

a way of scoring two points in a game of football by stopping a player with the ball in his own end zone

safety

noun

a player on the defense of a football team who stands very far away from the other team

scrimmage

noun

a game, especially of football, played for practice

scrimmage

noun

the action between two football teams from the moment the center passes the ball to the quarterback until the moment an official says it is dead

the Super Bowl

a football game played every year in the U.S. to decide which professional team is the winner of the National Football League. It is played on a Sunday known as Super Bowl Sunday and is watched on television by millions of Americans.

tackle

verb

to take hold of an opponent in a game such as football and stop them from moving forward, usually by forcing them to the ground

tackle

noun

an attempt to stop an opponent from moving forward in a game such as football, usually by forcing them to the ground

tailgate party

noun

Americaninformal a party held just before a football game in the parking lot, with the food and drinks served from people’s cars

touchdown

noun

the act of scoring points in football by taking the ball over the other team’s goal line

turnover

noun

American in football or basketball, an occasion when one team loses the ball and the other team gets it

yardage

noun

the number of yards that a team or player moves forward in a game of football