battery

bat·tery

noun \ˈba-t(ə-)rē\

plural bat·ter·ies

Definition of BATTERY

1

a : the act of battering or beating b : an offensive touching or use of force on a person without the person's consent — compare assault 2a

2

[Middle French batterie, from battre to beat] a : a grouping of artillery pieces for tactical purposes b : the guns of a warship

3

: an artillery unit in the army equivalent to a company

4

a : a combination of apparatus for producing a single electrical effect b : a group of two or more cells connected together to furnish electric current; also : a single cell that furnishes electric current <a flashlight battery> c plural : level of energy or enthusiasm <needs a vacation to recharge her batteries>

5

a : a number of similar articles, items, or devices arranged, connected, or used together : set, series <a battery of tests> b : a usually impressive or imposing group : array

6

: the position of readiness of a gun for firing

7

: the pitcher and catcher of a baseball team

Examples of BATTERY

1. I bought new batteries for the flashlights.
2. The operation was performed by a battery of doctors.

Origin of BATTERY

Anglo-French baterie, from batre to beat, from Latin battuere

First Known Use: 1531

Related to BATTERY

Synonyms: array, assemblage, band, bank, batch, group, block, bunch, clot, clump, cluster, clutch, collection, constellation, grouping, huddle, knot, lot, muster, package, parcel, passel, set, suite

Related Words: accumulation, aggregate, aggregation, conglomeration; agglomeration, assortment, hodgepodge, jumble, miscellany, mixture, odds and ends, sundries, variety; cycle, run, series, suit

Near Antonyms: entity, item, single, unit

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with BATTERY

cattery, clattery, flattery, mattery