batch

[ bach ]

/ bætʃ /

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See synonyms for: batch / batched / batches / batching on Thesaurus.com

noun

a quantity or number coming at one time or taken together: a batch of prisoners.

the quantity of material prepared or required for one operation: mixing a batch of concrete.

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

Computers.

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

Glassmaking.

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

verb (used with object)

to combine, mix, or process in a batch.

OTHER WORDS FOR batch

1 bunch, group, lot, number, set; band, flock, gang, pack, troop.

See synonyms for batch on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of batch

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”; see origin at bake

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use batch in a sentence

Finland, Sweden and Norway have asked to recall those specific batches which is what we are doing.
Europeans Recall Fireball Whiskey Over a Sweetener Also Used in Antifreeze|Tim Mak|October 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The only way to manufacture ice cream in this shop is daily, by hand, in small batches.
Dr. Mike’s Makes the Best Ice Cream on Earth|Jane & Michael Stern|July 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For three months last year it conducted training sessions for batches of young fighters.
Nigeria’s Do-It-Yourself Boko Haram Busters|Nina Strochlic|May 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bad batches of heroin are spreading across the country as well.
Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Deadly ‘Ace of Spades' Heroin|Marlow Stern|February 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

And once or twice a week, I will brew three gallon batches of iced tea, and put it in refrigeration.
How I Write: Michael Connelly|Noah Charney|January 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We had a good deal of difficulty at first in making bread and several batches were very "heavy" failures.
The Home of the Blizzard|Douglas Mawson
It had spread now from bishops and priests to the people itself, and the sufferers were sent in batches to the flames.
History of the English People|John Richard Green
The Jesuits were tracked by pursuivants and spies, dragged from their hiding-places, and sent in batches to the Tower.
History of the English People|John Richard Green
But alas, my agricultural force is diminishing,—the small boys are leaving in batches.
Mothering on Perilous|Lucy S. Furman
They had been interviewed in batches, and old Mr. Sanderson, the senior partner, had taken the first batch.
Happy Days|Alan Alexander Milne

British Dictionary definitions for batch (1 of 2)

batch¹

/ (bætʃ) /

noun

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

the bread, cakes, etc, produced at one baking

the amount of a material needed for an operation

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 IrelandCompare pan loaf

verb (tr)

to group (items) for efficient processing

to handle by batch processing

Word Origin for batch

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

British Dictionary definitions for batch (2 of 2)

batch²

bach

/ (bætʃ) /

verb Australian and NZ informal

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

to live alone

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012