batch

[bach]

noun

1. a quantity or number coming at one time or taken together.

   a batch of prisoners.

   Synonyms: troop, pack, gang, flock, band, set, number, lot, group, bunch, bunch

2. the quantity of material prepared or required for one operation.

   mixing a batch of concrete.

3. the quantity of bread, cookies, dough, or the like, made at one baking.

4. Computers.

   1. a group of jobs, data, or programs treated as a unit for computer processing.

   2. batch processing.

5. Glassmaking.

   1. a quantity of raw materials mixed in proper proportions and prepared for fusion into glass.

   2. the material so mixed.

verb (used with object)

1. to combine, mix, or process in a batch.

batch

¹

/ bætʃ /

noun

1. a group or set of usually similar objects or people, esp if sent off, handled, or arriving at the same time

2. the bread, cakes, etc, produced at one baking

3. the amount of a material needed for an operation

4. Also called: batch loaf. a tall loaf having a close texture and a thick crust on the top and bottom, baked as part of a batch: the sides of each loaf are greased so that they will pull apart after baking to have pale crumby sides; made esp in Scotland and Ireland Compare pan loaf

verb

1. to group (items) for efficient processing

2. to handle by batch processing

batch

²

/ bætʃ /

verb

1. (intr) (of a man) to do his own cooking and housekeeping

2. to live alone

Word History and Origins

Origin of batch¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English bache “amount of bread produced in one baking,” Old English gebæc; akin to German Gebäck “pastry, cakes”; bake

Word History and Origins

Origin of batch¹

C15 bache ; related to Old English bacan to _bake ; compare Old English gebæc batch, German Gebäck

Example Sentences

Last week the first batch of tickets for next summer's matches went on sale, with more than 4.5 million fans entering a draw for a chance to buy them.

From BBC

Despite complaints online saying the donuts are dry, my batch was anything but dry or stale.

From Salon

The partial records are from the third batch of documents produced by the Jeffrey Epstein Estate.

From BBC

The signature challenge asked bakers to make a batch of monkey bread, a sticky pull-apart bread made from balls of dough layered and baked in a Bundt pan.

From Salon

With plans for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions, he hopes to send batches to Italy for British athletes to enjoy after the Winter Games.

From BBC

Related Words

• amount 
• array 
• assortment 
• bunch 
• bundle 
• cluster 
• collection 
• lot 
• parcel 
• quantity 
• shipment 
• volume