From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishldoce_119_hfootballfoot‧ball /ˈfʊtbɔːl $ -bɒːl/ ●●● S1 W2 noun 1 DSF[uncountable] British English a game played by two teams of eleven players who try to kick a round ball into the other team’s goal SYN soccer American English Which football team do you support? kids playing football in the street My Dad took me to watch my first football match. a football clubfootball fan/supporter a group of Scottish football fansfootball boots/kit/shirt (=clothes worn to play football)football pitch/ground/stadium2 DSA[uncountable] American English a game played by two teams of eleven players who try to carry or kick an oval ball into the other team’s goal SYN American football British English college football games a football field He played football in high school.3 → football hooligan4 DS[countable] a ball used in these games → flag football, → political football at political(4)COLLOCATIONSfootball + NOUNa football teamWhich football team do you support?a football clubTottenham Hotspur is a North London football club.a football playerLike many little boys, his ambition was to be a football player.a football managerFootball managers shouldn't complain about referees' decisions.football fan (=someone who likes football a lot )Pat is a keen football fan.football supporter (=someone who supports a particular football team)55 football supporters were arrested after the game.a football match/gameDo you often go to football matches?a football pitch (=an area of grass where football is played)An area of wasteland had been turned into a football pitch.a football ground/stadium (=a place where football is played)Hundreds of fans were making their way towards the football ground.a football league (=a group of football teams who play against each other)The Premier League is one of the most popular football leagues in the world.football bootsHe got some new football boots for his birthday.a football shirtThey were all wearing England football shirts.football kit (=clothes for playing football in)He washes the whole team's football kit.a football strip (=clothes worn by a particular football team)The team wear a different football strip for their Champions League matches.a football referee (=the person who makes sure that the rules of football are followed)He is a qualified football referee for the Dorset County Football Association.a football crowdWe got caught up in a noisy football crowd.football violence (=between fans at football games)The government is considering measures to combat football violence.verbsplay footballThe boys are playing football in the garden.watch footballHe likes to spend Saturday afternoon watching football.follow football (=be interested in football)Bob follows football and goes to as many matches as he can.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + footballprofessional footballIt was his dream to play professional football one day.international football (=played by teams representing their country)He will retire from international football after the World Cup.domestic football (=played between teams from the same country)Saturday's defeat was the team's first in domestic football for seven matches.cup football (=in a competition to win a cup)It was an exciting match in the best traditions of cup football.league football (=in a football league)He was still playing league football at the age of 41.five-a-side football (=with five players on each team)His son played in a five-a-side football tournament.
Examples from the Corpus
football• For example, the professional footballer is an integral part of the production process of producing a football match.• His unabashed cheerleading for Cal was most visible at football games.• college football games• While Roebuck may wish to play down his football courage, the proof is there for all to witness.• Well, what can you say about the football?• But then think through the logic from the football authorities' perspective.football pitch/ground/stadium• The Wigwam Resort is turning its ballroom into a football stadium with a huge rear-projection screen flanked by Roman Colosseum-like pillars.• There will also be a floodlit multi-purpose outside court, and two hockey and football pitches.• The move would not interfere with greyhound racing and would leave the old Plough Lane football ground available for redevelopment.• Five-a-side football pitch at Baberton Mains.• So as you can see, studying football grounds is a brilliant hobby.• Shells crashed around the football stadium landing zone while the injured were being carried on board.• It had not been spent on the football pitch, however, nor the training ground.• Football fans came crowding up the hill toward the football ground, singing and shouting and throwing empty beer cans.played football• I wondered if any of them had ever played football with Romario.• The accident occurred last night in the Toxteth district of Liverpool as he and his friends played football.• He had played football in college and claimed he had an instinct for battle.• Sports were very important to the father, who himself had played football and basketball and had run track in high school.• In the Army, he played football and maintained his interest in all things artistic, especially jazz.• When he played football, he probably wore a chin strap made with a coconut shell.• Before his illness, Ivan played football, cricket and bowls, and was very well-known among the Ipswich sporting circle.• It was national absolution: they won the World Cup but we played football. 