Definition of "alley-oop" []

• Basketball A play in which a pass is lobbed above the basket and a player jumps up and attempts to catch the ball and score before returning to the floor. (noun)
• Basketball The pass made in such a play. (noun)
• Used to signal the start of a strenuous activity, such as lifting. (interjection)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Long before the term alley-oop became synonymous with dunking a basketball, San Francisco wide receiver R. C. Owens invented the play on Kezar's turf, using his leaping ability to snag lobs in the end zone from Tittle."
• "Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo threw the ball away while looking for a wide-open Allen on a breakaway—but Rondo did acquit himself nicely when he inbounded an alley-oop straight to Garnett for a dunk that cut the Knicks' lead to one and set up Allen's game-winner."
• "The dunking machine grabbed the ball with one hand and slammed it in for the incredible alley-oop."