apelotonar

to roll into a ball

apelotonar(ah-peh-loh-toh-nahr)

transitive verb

1. (to cram)

a. to roll into a ball

Oye, no apelotones las sábanas así. Dóblalas bien.

Hey, don't roll the sheets into a ball like that. Fold them up nicely.

En lugar de doblar los suéteres, Marco los había apelotonado dentro del armario.

Instead of folding his sweaters, Marco had rolled them into a ball inside the wardrobe.

apelotonarse

pronominal verb

2. (to gather)

a. to crowd together

Los fans se apelotonaban en la puerta del hotel esperando a que saliera la cantante.

The fans crowded together outside the hotel, waiting for the singer to come out.

b. to mass

Las ovejas se apelotonaban en la cancela intentando salir todas al mismo tiempo.

The sheep massed at the gate, all of them trying to get out at the same time.

3. (to roll up into a ball)

a. to curl up into a ball

Cuando nos acercamos, el erizo se apelotonó. - Sí, es su forma de defensa.

When we got closer, the hedgehog curled up into a ball. - Yes, that's its defense mechanism.

4. (to lump up)

a. to become lumpy

¿Te acuerdas de aquellos colchones de lana de casa de la abuela? - Sí, recuerdo que se apelotonaban durante la noche.

Do you remember those wool matresses at grandma's? - Yes, I remember they became lumpy during the night.