bat

¹bat

noun \ˈbat\

Definition of BAT

1

: a stout solid stick : club

2

: a sharp blow : stroke

3

a : a usually wooden implement used for hitting the ball in various games

b : a paddle used in various games (as table tennis)

c : the short whip used by a jockey

4

a : batsman, batter <a right-handed bat>

b : a turn at batting —usually used in the phrase at bat

c : hitting ability <we need his bat in the lineup>

5

: batt

6

British : rate of speed : gait

7

: binge

— off one's own bat

chiefly British : through one's own efforts

— off the bat

: without delay : immediately <recognized him right off the bat>

Origin of BAT

Middle English, from Old English batt

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with BAT

batt, blat, brat, cat, Cat, chat, chert, drat, fat, flat, frat, gat, gnat, hat, mat, Matt, matte, pat, phat, plait, plat, Pratt, rat, sat, scat, scatt, skat, slat, spat, splat, sprat, stat, tat, that, vat

²bat

verb

bat·ted bat·ting

Definition of BAT

transitive verb

1

: to strike or hit with or as if with a bat

2

a : to advance (a base runner) by batting

b : to have a batting average of

3

: to discuss at length : consider in detail

intransitive verb

1

a : to strike or hit a ball with a bat

b : to take one's turn at bat

2

: to wander aimlessly

First Known Use of BAT

15th century

³bat

noun

Definition of BAT

: any of a widely distributed order (Chiroptera) of nocturnal usually frugivorous or insectivorous flying mammals that have wings formed from four elongated digits of the forelimb covered by a cutaneous membrane and that have adequate visual capabilities but often rely on echolocation

Origin of BAT

probably alteration of Middle English bakke, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Swedish nattbakka bat

First Known Use: 1580

Other Mammals Terms

dormouse, dugong, gibbon, grimalkin, sable, stoat, ungulate, vole

⁴bat

transitive verb

bat·ted bat·ting

Definition of BAT

: to wink especially in surprise or emotion <never batted an eye>; also : flutter <batted his eyelashes>

Origin of BAT

probably alteration of ²bate

First Known Use: circa 1838

BAT

abbreviation

Definition of BAT

bachelor of arts in teaching

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis

bat

noun \ˈbat\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of BAT

: any of an order (Chiroptera) of nocturnal placental flying mammals with forelimbs modified to form wings

bat

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any member of more than 1,100 species (order Chiroptera) of the only mammals to have evolved true flight. Their wings are evolutionary modification of the forelimbs, with greatly elongated fingers joined by a membrane that extends down the side of the body. Most bats use echolocation to orient themselves and find prey. Found worldwide, they are particularly abundant in the tropics. Wingspreads vary among species from 6 in. (15 cm) to 5 ft (1.5 m). Nearly all species roost during the day (in caves, crevices, burrows, building, or trees) and feed at night. Most are insectivores, consuming enough insects to affect the balance of insect populations. Others feed on fruit, pollen, nectar, or blood (vampire bats). Some may live more than 20 years. The guano of bats has long been used for agricultural fertilizer. See also free-tailed bat, fruit bat.