Understanding the Meaning of the Word "BALL"

The question asks us to identify which of the given sentences best expresses a meaning of the word "BALL". Let's examine each sentence.

Analyzing Sentence A: "Sanchita balled her eyes out when she found out she wasn’t going to be part of the team."

The phrase "balled her eyes out" is an idiom. It means to cry profusely or heavily. While the word "ball" is part of this idiom, the meaning of the phrase as a whole is "to cry intensely," which is not a primary or direct meaning of the word "ball" on its own.

Analyzing Sentence B: "She balled up the love letter and threw it at his face."

In this sentence, "balled up" is used as a verb. It means to form something into a ball shape, typically by crumpling or crushing. This usage is directly related to the noun "ball" (a round object) and describes the action of making something into that shape. This clearly expresses a meaning of the word "ball" as a verb derived from the noun.

Analyzing Sentence C: "Sagarika had a ball at the office party, where she sang and she danced."

The phrase "had a ball" is another common idiom. It means to have a very enjoyable time. Similar to sentence A, this is an idiomatic expression. However, this idiom is strongly associated with the word "ball" and is a recognized meaning in informal English usage, signifying enjoyment or fun. Compared to sentence A, "having a ball" is a more direct idiomatic use of the word 'ball' to mean 'enjoyment' or 'fun', which can be considered a derived or associated meaning in a recreational context (like playing ball games for fun). While idiomatic, this expression is a common and distinct meaning associated with the word "ball".

Comparing the Sentences

Sentence B uses "balled up" to mean forming into a ball, which is a literal meaning derived from the physical object. Sentence C uses "had a ball" to mean having fun, which is a very common idiomatic meaning of the word "ball" in a recreational context. Sentence A uses "balled her eyes out," which is also an idiom for crying, but perhaps a less direct expression of a meaning of "ball" itself compared to "having a ball" which relates to the idea of entertainment or recreation often associated with balls.

Considering how the word "BALL" is used, both the action of forming into a ball (Sentence B) and the idiomatic sense of having fun (Sentence C) are valid ways the word expresses a meaning, either literally or idiomatically. Sentence A's idiom is less directly tied to the core sense of the word.

Conclusion

Based on the analysis, both Sentence B, which describes forming something into a ball, and Sentence C, which uses the idiom "had a ball" meaning had fun, best express different meanings associated with the word "BALL".