Dictionary entry details
• AMERICAN FOOTBALL (noun)
Meaning:
A game played by two teams of 11 players on a rectangular field 100 yards long; teams try to get possession of the ball and advance it across the opponents goal line in a series of (running or passing) plays
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
American football; American football game
Hypernyms ("American football" is a kind of...):
football; football game (any of various games played with a ball (round or oval) in which two teams try to kick or carry or propel the ball into each other's goal)
Domain member category:
fumble; muff ((sports) dropping the ball)
return ((American football) the act of running back the ball after a kickoff or punt or interception or fumble)
reverse ((American football) a running play in which a back running in one direction hands the ball to a back running in the opposite direction)
rush; rushing ((American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line)
pass; passing; passing game; passing play ((American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate)
power play (a play in which there is a concentration of players in one location on the field of play)
handoff ((American football) a play in which one player hands the ball to a teammate)
tackle ((American football) grasping an opposing player with the intention of stopping by throwing to the ground)
interference ((American football) blocking a player's path with your body)
trap block ((American football) an illegal block)
back (the position of a player on a football team who is stationed behind the line of scrimmage)
lineman (the position of a player on a football team who is stationed on the line of scrimmage)
scrimmage ((American football) practice play between a football team's squads)
blitz; linebacker blitzing; safety blitz ((American football) defensive players try to break through the offensive line)
end run; sweep ((American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running around the end of the line)
draw; draw play ((American football) the quarterback moves back as if to pass and then hands the ball to the fullback who is running toward the line of scrimmage)
run; running; running game; running play ((American football) a play in which a player attempts to carry the ball through or past the opposing team)
centering; snap ((American football) putting the ball in play by passing it (between the legs) to a back)
fair catch ((American football) a catch of a punt on the fly by a defensive player who has signalled that he will not run and so should not be tackled)
interception ((American football) the act of catching a football by a player on the opposing team)
reception ((American football) the act of catching a pass in football)
straight-arm ((American football) the act of warding off a tackler by holding the arm fully extended with the hand against the opponent)
touchback ((American football) a play in which the opposing team has kicked the football into your end zone)
safety (a score in American football; a player is tackled behind his own goal line)
touchdown (a score in American football; being in possession of the ball across the opponents' goal line)
field goal (a score in American football; a score made by kicking the ball between the opponents' goal posts)
extra point; point after; point after touchdown (in American football a point awarded for a successful place kick following a touchdown)
down ((American football) a complete play to advance the football)
completion; pass completion ((American football) a successful forward pass in football)
football play ((American football) a play by the offensive team)
mousetrap; trap play ((American football) a play in which a defensive player is allowed to cross the line of scrimmage and then blocked off as the runner goes through the place the lineman vacated)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "American football"):
touch football (a version of American football in which the ball carrier is touched rather than tackled)
