Also called galvanic battery, voltaic battery. Electricity. a combination of two or more cells electrically connected to work together to produce electric energy.
any large group or series of related things.
a battery of questions.
Military.
two or more pieces of artillery used for combined action.
a tactical unit of artillery, usually consisting of six guns together with the artillerymen, equipment, etc., required to operate them.
a parapet or fortification equipped with artillery.
a group or series of similar articles, machines, parts, etc.
Baseball. the pitcher and catcher considered as a unit.
Navy.
(on a warship) a group of guns having the same caliber or used for the same purpose.
the whole armament of a warship.
Psychology. a series of tests yielding a single total score, used for measuring aptitude, intelligence, personality, etc.
the act of beating or battering.
Law. an unlawful attack upon another person by beating or wounding, or by touching in an offensive manner.
an instrument used in battering.
Music. Also the instruments comprising the percussion section of an orchestra.
any imposing group of persons or things acting or directed in unison.
a battery of experts.
two or more primary cells connected together, usually in series, to provide a source of electric current
short for dry battery
another name for accumulator
a number of similar things occurring together
a battery of questions
criminal law unlawful beating or wounding of a person or mere touching in a hostile or offensive manner See also assault and battery
a fortified structure on which artillery is mounted
a group of guns, missile launchers, searchlights, or torpedo tubes of similar type or size operated as a single entity
a small tactical unit of artillery usually consisting of two or more troops, each of two, three or four guns
a large group of cages for intensive rearing of poultry
( as modifier )
battery hens
psychol a series of tests
chess two pieces of the same colour placed so that one can unmask an attack by the other by moving
the percussion section in an orchestra
baseball the pitcher and the catcher considered together
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.
First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle French batterie, equivalent to batt(re) “to beat” + -erie noun suffix; see bate 2, -ery
Battery is (among other things) physical attack or assault: “He was arrested for battery after he hit his manager several times on the head with a large flashlight.” When you think of a battery, you probably envision the electrical devices that allow you to power everything in your life — from your car to your cell phone. However, battery has a whole host of meanings. In addition to beating someone as in "assault and battery," it also refers to a collection of artillery or guns: “He’s collected a battery of weapons; we hope he doesn’t intend to use them." Beyond guns, a battery can also refer to any group or collection of similar things: “She was subjected to a battery of tests, designed to determine whether she was a genius or just plain smart.”
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I have 60,000 miles on it and haven’t seen a noticeable drop in battery performance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
China’s battery titans, including CATL, control vital patents on technologies such as sodium-ion battery chemistry, considered by many the next generation in onboard energy storage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026
As demand for better energy storage grows, improvements in battery capacity, lifespan, and safety will play a major role in the future of electrification.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 10, 2026
The core of the battery, containing the cells which provide power for the car, is unharmed.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
The car sounded like a toy that needed a new battery, and her music—loud, aggressive rock—blared through the open windows.
From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss
Battery life, for instance, fell well short of expectations.
From Slate ● Jun. 20, 2026
Battery energy storage systems—which store electricity and release it when needed—could be the next frontier, seeing as they are a critical enabler of renewable energy generation.
From Barron's ● May 29, 2026
Battery capacity and efficiency has improved, meaning electric buses can be charged quickly and cover long distances.
From BBC ● Apr. 21, 2026
Battery makers outside of China are racing to catch up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 24, 2026
The soldiers on it jumped out and marched in formation to the Battery, in search of rebel soldiers.
From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson
“It is not just base pricing, but volatility has collapsed as markets are in oversupply and batteries have successfully taken over the day-to-day work of gas plants,” Macquarie says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Tan also allegedly told Apple employees to bring physical components, such as batteries, circuit boards, and other parts, to interviews for "show and tell" sessions.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
At NATO’s annual summit in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday, Trump said he would let Ukraine manufacture Patriot defense systems, sophisticated U.S. mobile batteries that can shoot down enemy ballistic missiles.
From Slate ● Jul. 10, 2026
Please put on your batteries — a Mexican Spanish idiom that means to cowboy up.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
The sub’s batteries were so low that they were making barely three miles per hour.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
