inning
UK: ˈɪnɪŋ | US: ˈɪnɪŋ
n. (in baseball or cricket) a division of a game during which one team has a turn at batting
n. (figuratively) an opportunity to achieve something or a period of activity
The word "inning" originates from Old English innung, derived from the verb innian ("to get in, put in"), combining inn (related to "in") and the suffix -ing (indicating action or result). In baseball/cricket, it metaphorically represents a team's "turn to put in" effort (batting). The term evolved from general Old English usage (e.g., "a putting in" of crops) to its specialized sports sense in the 18th century.
The home team scored three runs in the first inning.
She saw the job offer as her inning to prove her skills.
The match was tied after nine innings.
His retirement marked the end of a long professional inning.
Rain delayed the start of the fifth inning.