battery

bat·tery | \ ˈba-t(ə-)rē

plural batteries

Definition of battery

1a : the act of beating someone or something with successive blows : the act of battering (see batter entry 1 sense 1)

b law : an offensive touching or use of force on a person without the person's consent evidence that supports a charge of battery — compare assault entry 1 sense 2a

2 [Middle French batterie, from battre to beat] military

a : a grouping of artillery pieces for tactical (see tactical sense 1a(1)) purposes a battery of cannon from the Revolutionary War

b : the guns of a warship the starboard battery

3 military : an artillery (see artillery sense 2b) unit in the army equivalent to a company (see company entry 1 sense 2b)

4a : a combination of apparatus for producing a single electrical effect a battery of generators

b : a group of two or more cells (see cell sense 5) connected together to furnish electric current also : a single cell that furnishes electric current need to replace the flashlight's batteries

c batteries plural : level of energy or enthusiasm needs a vacation to recharge her batteries

5a(1) : a number of similar articles, items, or devices arranged, connected, or used together : set, series ran through a battery of tests a battery of filing cabinets

(2) : a series of cages or compartments for raising or fattening poultry —often used before another nounbattery chickensbattery farming

b : a usually impressive or imposing group : array a battery of specialists

6 : the position of readiness of a gun for firing the gun would not return to battery — Infantry Journal

7 baseball : the pitcher and catcher of a team one of the greatest batteries in baseball history

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about battery

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Examples of battery in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web Some long-handle grass shears may be battery-powered. — Anthony Marcusa, chicagotribune.com, "The best long-handle grass shear," 4 Aug. 2020 As the crowd thinned, a woman was arrested and booked with misdemeanor battery for trying to snatch another protester’s sign. — Cindy Chang Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, "Amid a national movement to defund the police, LAPD officers rally outside downtown headquarters," 11 July 2020 Prior to this past weekend's arrest, Conway was wanted by the Butte County Sheriff's Office on a felony warrant charging him with battery, vandalism and two counts of making terroristic threats, the Chico Enterprise-Record reported in 2019. — Greg Norman | Fox News, Fox News, "California police detail chaotic arrest in shooting that led boy, 15, to hide in wilderness for 30 hours," 10 July 2020 Meanwhile, Australian prime minister Scott Morrison announced in June that the country's public and private sectors have been grappling with a months-long battery of cyberattacks. — Lily Hay Newman, Wired, "The Worst Hacks and Breaches of 2020 So Far," 3 July 2020 The new fund, which will be called The Climate Pledge Fund, will invest in companies across a number of industries, including transportation, energy generation, battery storage, manufacturing and food and agriculture, according to the company. — Dana Mattioli, WSJ, "Amazon to Launch $2 Billion Venture Capital Fund to Invest in Clean Energy," 23 June 2020 His first company named Fisker made a sleek ultra-luxury electric car called the Fisker Karma but ended up stopping production and selling assets to a Chinese company after battery supplier A123 Systems filed for bankruptcy in 2012. — Nathan Bomey, USA TODAY, "Fisker Ocean SUV to arrive in late 2022 as electric vehicle start-up makes deal to go public," 14 July 2020 Did a battery of Cleveland police officers fire dozens of pepper spray pellets at a Cleveland man who was simply trying to enter his apartment building in downtown Cleveland on the night of the May 30 riot? — Laura Johnston, cleveland, "Ohio’s coronavirus surge keeps soaring: This Week in the CLE," 13 July 2020 The company aspires to transition to battery-electric self-driving cars eventually, says Dan Pierce, a spokesperson for autonomous vehicles at the Detroit automaker. — Aarian Marshall, Wired, "The Intersection Between Self-Driving Cars and Electric Cars," 13 July 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'battery.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

7 Aug 2020

Cite this Entry

“Battery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/battery. Accessed 9 Aug. 2020.

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More Definitions for battery

battery

noun

English Language Learners Definition of battery

: a device that is placed inside a machine (such as a clock, toy, or car) to supply it with electricity

: a usually large group of similar people, things, or ideas that work together, are used together, etc.

: a group of two or more big guns used by the military

See the full definition for battery in the English Language Learners Dictionary

battery

noun

bat·tery | \ ˈba-tə-rē

plural batteries

Kids Definition of battery

1 : two or more big military guns that are controlled as a unit

2 : an electric cell or connected electric cells for providing electric current a flashlight battery

3 : a number of similar items or devices grouped together a battery of tests

4 : an unlawful touching or use of force on a person against his or her will

battery

noun

bat·tery | \ ˈbat-ə-rē, ˈba-trē

plural batteries

Medical Definition of battery

1a : 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

2 : a group or series of tests especially : a group of intelligence or personality tests given to a subject as an aid in psychological analysis

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battery

noun

bat·tery | \ ˈba-tə-rē, -trē

Legal Definition of battery

: the crime or tort of intentionally or recklessly causing offensive physical contact or bodily harm (as by striking or by administering a poison or drug) that is not consented to by the victim — compare assault

— aggravated battery

: criminal battery that is accompanied by aggravating factors: as

a : criminal battery that causes or is intended to cause serious bodily injury especially through the use of a dangerous weapon

b : criminal battery committed on a protected person (as a minor or a police officer) — compare simple battery in this entry

Note: Aggravated battery is usually classified as a felony.

— sexual battery

: intentional and offensive sexual contact and especially sexual intercourse with a person who has not given or (as in the case of a child) is incapable of giving consent broadly : forced or coerced contact with the sexual parts of either the victim or the perpetrator — see also rape

Note: This is a broad definition of the offense. The specific elements of this crime vary from state to state, and some states use more narrow definitions.

— simple battery

: criminal battery that is not accompanied by aggravating factors (as a dangerous weapon) — compare aggravated battery in this entry

Note: Simple battery is usually classified as a misdemeanor.

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