bat·ter·y (b t  -r )n. pl. bat·ter·ies 1. a. The act of beating or pounding. b. Law The unlawful and unwanted touching or striking of one person by another, with the intention of bringing about a harmful or offensive contact. 2. a. An emplacement for one or more pieces of artillery. b. A set of guns or other heavy artillery, as on a warship. c. An army artillery unit, corresponding to a company in the infantry. 3. a. An array of similar things intended for use together: took a battery of achievement tests. b. An impressive body or group: a battery of political supporters. 4. Baseball The pitcher and catcher. 5. Music The percussion section of an orchestra. 6. Electricity a. Two or more connected cells that produce a direct current by converting chemical energy to electrical energy. b. A single cell, such as a dry cell, that produces an electric current.
[Middle English batri, forged metal ware, from Old French baterie, a beating, from batre, to batter; see batter1.] |
battery Noun pl -teries 1. two or more primary cells connected to provide a source of electric current 2. a number of similar things occurring together: a battery of questions 3. Criminal law unlawful beating or wounding of a person 4. Chiefly Brit a series of cages for intensive rearing of poultry 5. a fortified structure on which artillery is mounted Adjective kept in a series of cages for intensive rearing: battery hens [Latin battuere to beat]
battery (bt-r) A device containing an electric cell or a series of electric cells storing energy that can be converted into electrical power (usually in the form of direct current). Common household batteries, such as those used in a flashlight, are usually made of dry cells (the chemicals producing the current are made into a paste). In other batteries, such as car batteries, these chemicals are in liquid form. A Closer Look A battery stores chemical energy, which it converts to electrical energy. A typical battery, such as a car battery, is composed of an arrangement of galvanic cells. Each cell contains two metal electrodes, separate from each other, immersed within an electrolyte containing both positive and negative ions. A chemical reaction between the electrodes and the electrolyte, similar to that found in electroplating, takes place, and the metals dissolve in the electrolyte, leaving electrons behind on the electrodes. However, the metals dissolve at different rates, so a greater number of electrons accumulate at one electrode (creating the negative electrode) than at the other electrode (which becomes the positive electrode). This gives rise to an electric potential between the electrodes, which are typically linked together in series and parallel to one another in order to provide the desired voltage at the battery terminals (12 volts, for example, for a car battery). The buildup of charge on the electrodes prevents the metals from dissolving further, but if the battery is hooked up to an electric circuit through which current may flow, electrons are drawn out of the negative electrodes and into the positive ones, reducing their charge and allowing further chemical reactions. | battery Electrons flow from the zinc casing to the carbon rod, lighting the bulb in the process. The zinc casing acts as a negative electrode; the carbon rod acts as a positive electrode. The ammonium chloride paste acts as the electrolyte and the carbon and the manganese dioxide mixture around the carbon rod extends the battery's life. |
batteryan intentional act that, directly or indirectly, causes harmful contact with another’s person. See also: Law
Battery a number of similar machines or devices arranged in a group; a succession of blows or drum beats; a number of hens housed together to encourage the laying of eggs. See also bank, bench.Examples: battery of boilers; condensers; of drum beats; of dynamos; of electric lights; of guns [gun emplacement]; of hens, 1879; of kitchen untensils, 1819; of prisms or lens; of Leyden jars; of lights; of looks, 1823; of three mortars, 1688; searchlight battery.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. | battery - group of guns or missile launchers operated together at one place | | 2. |  battery - a device that produces electricity; may have several primary or secondary cells arranged in parallel or seriesA battery - the battery used to heat the filaments of a vacuum tube B battery - battery for supplying a constant positive voltage to the plate of a vacuum tube C battery - battery used to maintain the grid potential in a vacuum tube electrode - a conductor used to make electrical contact with some part of a circuit terminal, pole - a contact on an electrical device (such as a battery) at which electric current enters or leaves | | 3. | battery - a collection of related things intended for use together; "took a battery of achievement tests"sub-test - one of a battery of related tests | | 4. | battery - a unit composed of the pitcher and catcherteam, squad - a cooperative unit (especially in sports) | | 5. | battery - a series of stamps operated in one mortar for crushing orespestle, stamp - machine consisting of a heavy bar that moves vertically for pounding or crushing ores | | 6. |  battery - the heavy fire of artillery to saturate an area rather than hit a specific target; "they laid down a barrage in front of the advancing troops"; "the shelling went on for hours without pausing"firing, fire - the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy; "hold your fire until you can see the whites of their eyes"; "they retreated in the face of withering enemy fire" | | 7. | battery - an assault in which the assailant makes physical contactassault - a threatened or attempted physical attack by someone who appears to be able to cause bodily harm if not stopped resisting arrest - physical efforts to oppose a lawful arrest; the resistance is classified as assault and battery upon the person of the police officer attempting to make the arrest |
battery
1. Tactical and administrative artillery unit or subunit corresponding to a company or similar unit in other branches of the Army. 2. All guns, torpedo tubes, searchlights, or missile launchers of the same size or caliber or used for the same purpose, either installed in one ship or otherwise operating as an entity.
 Translations battery [ˈbætərɪ] n → batería; [ of torch] → pila
 battery [ˈbætərɪ] n [ for torch, radio] → pile f;
 battery [ˈbætərɪ] n → Batterie f; ( of tests, reporters) → Reihe f
 battery [ˈbætərɪ] n → batteria; [ of torch] → pila
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battery