- 1 [countable] a device that is placed inside a car engine, clock, radio, etc. and that produces the electricity that makes it work to replace the batteries a rechargeable battery battery-powered/-operated a car battery The battery is flat (= it is no longer producing electricity). Wordfinderelectricitybattery, charge, conduct, connect, electricity, generate, insulate, power, switch, wire Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivedead, flat, rechargeable, … verb + batterycharge, recharge, drain, … battery + verbdie, give out, go dead, … battery + nounpower, life, failure, … phrasesbattery-operated, battery-powered See full entry See related entries: Parts of a car, Devices
- 2[countable] battery (of something) a large number of things or people of the same type He faced a battery of questions. a battery of reporters Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivefull, whole prepositionbattery of phrasesa battery of tests See full entry
- 3[countable] (specialist) a number of large guns that are used together Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveartillery, gun, howitzer, … See full entry
- 4[countable] (British English) (often used as an adjective) a large number of small cages that are joined together and are used for keeping chickens, etc. in on a farm a battery hen battery eggs compare free-range See related entries: Animal farming
- 5 [uncountable] (law) the crime of attacking somebody physically see also assault and battery See related entries: Types of crime Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French baterie, from battre ‘to strike’, from Latin battuere. The original sense was ‘metal articles wrought by hammering’, later ‘a number of pieces of artillery used together’, which led to the meaning ‘a number of Leyden jars connected up so as to discharge simultaneously’ (mid 18th cent.), giving rise to sense (1). The more general meanings date from the late 19th cent.Extra examples After about six hours, the battery will run down. Don’t leave the radio on—it’ll drain the car battery. He was arrested and charged with assault and battery. I had to answer a whole battery of questions. Is the battery connected correctly? The battery compartment is at the back of the unit. The car won’t start—the battery’s flat. The lights have rechargeable battery packs. The machine can also run on batteries. With our product you get longer battery life. a small battery-powered car intensive battery farming methods A sample of the school population was given a battery of tests examining reading ability. A whole battery of measures was tried in an attempt to get them to give up cigarettes. He faced a battery of awkward questions. He was charged with battery after a fight at a night club.Idioms
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BrE BrE//ˈbætri//, BrE//ˈbætəri//; NAmE NAmE//ˈbætəri//
(pl. batteries) Types of crime, Animal farming, Parts of a car, Devicesto get back your strength and energy by resting for a while
Check pronunciation: battery
