Sort of ball made square after manipulation (10)

I believe the answer is:

masquerade

'sort of ball' is the definition.

'made square after manipulation' is the wordplay.
'after manipulation' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen this in other clues).
'made'+'square'='madesquare'
'madesquare' anagrammed gives 'MASQUERADE'.

(Other definitions for masquerade that I've seen before include "The wearing of disguise" , "Deception" , "Adam's queer? (anag)" , "False show; pretence" , "Dress up" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times and The Sunday Times.

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