In various games. Tennis. transitive and intransitive. To strike the ball sharply with the racket held at an angle, or with a downward motion, so…

transitive. Tennis, etc. To return (a ball) in play before it touches the ground; to reply to (a service) in this way. Also, Association Football, to…

Tennis. To strike (the ball) violently and swiftly in an overhand volley. Also absol. and in Badminton, Squash Rackets, etc.

transitive. To throw heavily or clumsily; to toss or bowl with a slow movement. In Tennis, to strike (a ball) well into the air so as to fall at…

transitive. Tennis. To hit (the ball) with a block shot. Cf. block shot n. at block, n. additions.

transitive. To hit or hit at (a thing) too strongly; to go beyond instead of exactly hitting (something). Also intransitive.

transitive. To hit soft, slow shots against (an opponent) as a tactic in tennis and some other racket games. Also occasionally in baseball with…