bat

noun (1)

\ ˈbat

\

Definition of bat

(Entry 1 of 5)

1 : a stout solid stick : club

2 : a sharp blow : stroke

3a : a usually wooden implement used for hitting the ball in various games

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

c : the short whip used by a jockey

4a : 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

bat

verb (1)

batted; batting

Definition of bat (Entry 2 of 5)

transitive verb

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

2a : to advance (a base runner) by batting

b : to have a batting average of

3 : to discuss at length : consider in detail

intransitive verb

1a : to strike or hit a ball with a bat

b : to take one's turn at bat

2 : to wander aimlessly

bat

noun (2)

Definition of bat (Entry 3 of 5)

: 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

bat

verb (2)

batted; batting

Definition of bat (Entry 4 of 5)

transitive verb

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

BAT

abbreviation

Definition of BAT (Entry 5 of 5)

bachelor of arts in teaching

First Known Use of bat

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1580, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

circa 1787, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for bat

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English batt

Noun (2)

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

Verb (2)

probably alteration of bate entry 2

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about bat

Dictionary Entries near bat

Statistics for bat

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for bat

The first known use of bat was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for bat

bat

noun

\ ˈbat

\

Kids Definition of bat

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : a sharp blow or slap a bat on the ear

2 : an implement used for hitting the ball in various games a baseball bat

3 : a turn at batting You're next at bat.

bat

verb

batted; batting

Kids Definition of bat (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : to strike with or as if with a bat The cat batted at the tablecloth's tassels.

2 : to take a turn at bat Have you batted yet?

bat

noun

Kids Definition of bat (Entry 3 of 3)

: any of a group of mammals that fly by means of long front limbs modified into wings

bat

noun

\ ˈbat

\

Medical Definition of bat

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

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

substantive

important, real, or meaningful

Test Your Vocabulary

Homophone Quiz

In order to judge how people felt, the senator's office hired a firm to take a ______.

pole poll
pol poal

Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games