meatball \ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷\noun 1.: a small ball of chopped or ground meat often mixed with bread crumbs and vegetables and browned in a skillet 2.: a clumsy, dull, or unattractive person < it was too bad the army had sent such a meatball to be administrator — John Hersey > 3.: a pennant (as in the United States Navy) for battle efficiency or for an athletic championship