Brainstorm vs. Spitball — What's the Difference?

A sudden clever plan or idea.

A spitball is an illegal baseball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of a foreign substance such as saliva or petroleum jelly. This technique alters the wind resistance and weight on one side of the ball, causing it to move in an atypical manner.

A sudden, violent disturbance of the mind.

A piece of paper chewed and shaped into a lump for use as a projectile.

To engage in or organize brainstorming.

(Baseball) An illegal pitch in which a foreign substance, such as saliva, is applied to the ball before it is thrown. Also called spitter.

To consider or investigate (an issue, for example) by brainstorming.

(baseball) A pitch of a baseball that has been partly covered with saliva, illegal at most levels.

To think of or produce (a solution to a problem, for example) by brainstorming.

A balled-up piece of paper, moistened with saliva (by chewing) and shot through a drinking straw.

To investigate something, or solve a problem using brainstorming.

(baseball) To moisten the ball with saliva before pitching it.

To participate in a brainstorming session.

To brainstorm ideas.

(US) A sudden thought, particularly one that solves a long-standing problem.

Paper chewed, and rolled into a ball, to be thrown as a missile; - a childish prank.

A session of brainstorming, investigating a problem to try to find solutions.

A pitched ball in throwing which the pitcher grips the ball between two, or three, fingers on one side (which is made slippery, as by saliva) and the thumb on the other side, and delivers it so that it slips off the fingers with the least possible friction; - also called spitter. When pitched directly overhand a spit ball darts downward, when pitched with the arm extended sidewise it darts down and out. The use of such a pitch is against the rules of professional baseball.

(British) An unexpected mental error.

A projectile made by chewing a piece of paper and shaping it into a sphere

The clear (and often sudden) understanding of a complex situation; a sudden brilliant insight.

An illegal pitch in which a foreign substance (spit or Vaseline) is applied to the ball by the pitcher before he throws it

To try to solve a problem by discussing it exhaustively in an intense group meeting encouraging uninhibited and spontaneous contributions from all members.

The clear (and often sudden) understanding of a complex situation

Try to solve a problem by thinking intensely about it