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• battery
  battery

  noun

  a combination of two or more cells electrically connected to work together to produce electric energy.
• Battery
  Battery

  noun

  The Battery, a park at the south end of Manhattan, in New York City.

battery

¹ American  

[bat-uh-ree] / ˈbæt ə ri /

noun

• batteries
  plural

1. Also called galvanic battery, voltaic battery.  Electricity. a combination of two or more cells electrically connected to work together to produce electric energy.

2. any large group or series of related things.

   a battery of questions.

3. Military.

   1. two or more pieces of artillery used for combined action.

   2. a tactical unit of artillery, usually consisting of six guns together with the artillerymen, equipment, etc., required to operate them.

   3. a parapet or fortification equipped with artillery.

4. a group or series of similar articles, machines, parts, etc.

5. Baseball. the pitcher and catcher considered as a unit.

6. Navy.

   1. (on a warship) a group of guns having the same caliber or used for the same purpose.

   2. the whole armament of a warship.

7. Psychology. a series of tests yielding a single total score, used for measuring aptitude, intelligence, personality, etc.

8. the act of beating or battering.

9. Law. an unlawful attack upon another person by beating or wounding, or by touching in an offensive manner.

10. an instrument used in battering.

11. Music. Also the instruments comprising the percussion section of an orchestra.

12. any imposing group of persons or things acting or directed in unison.

    a battery of experts.

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Battery ² American  

[bat-uh-ree] / ˈbæt ə ri /

noun

1. The Battery, a park at the south end of Manhattan, in New York City.

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battery British  

/ ˈbætərɪ /

noun

1. 1. two or more primary cells connected together, usually in series, to provide a source of electric current

   2. short for dry battery

2. another name for accumulator

3. a number of similar things occurring together

   a battery of questions

4. criminal law unlawful beating or wounding of a person or mere touching in a hostile or offensive manner See also assault and battery

5. a fortified structure on which artillery is mounted

6. a group of guns, missile launchers, searchlights, or torpedo tubes of similar type or size operated as a single entity

7. a small tactical unit of artillery usually consisting of two or more troops, each of two, three or four guns

8. 1. a large group of cages for intensive rearing of poultry

   2. ( as modifier )

      battery hens

9. psychol a series of tests

10. chess two pieces of the same colour placed so that one can unmask an attack by the other by moving

11. the percussion section in an orchestra

12. baseball the pitcher and the catcher considered together

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battery Scientific  

/ băt′ə-rē /

1. 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.

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battery Cultural  

1. A device that produces an electric current (see also current) by harnessing the chemical reactions that take place within its cells.

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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.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• batteries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of battery

First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle French batterie, equivalent to batt(re) “to beat” + -erie noun suffix; see bate ², -ery

Explanation

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.”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

battery Battery batteries

The firm’s revenue primarily comes from its renewable power unit, which focuses on developing solar and battery systems.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

Any lithium-ion battery sold in the UK for these vehicles must meet safety requirements set out by the government that ensures the batteries can be charged safely, do not overheat and are protected from damage.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

Later investigations found a "catastrophic failure" of the battery in an e-bike conversion kit purchased online from China was "more likely than not" responsible for the fire.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

Cellulose-based jet fuel, battery materials and fabrics are all being touted.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

It fell on the carpeted floor, and a dislodged battery rolled out.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Battery researchers often remove this water because moisture is commonly viewed as harmful to battery materials.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 1, 2026

Battery prices have fallen more than 90% since 2010, according to a BloombergNEF report from late last year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026

Battery life, for instance, fell well short of expectations.

From Slate ● Jun. 20, 2026

Battery recycler Redwood Materials is using retired EV batteries External link to power a site.

From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026

The officer gave another command, and the men marched off, splitting into three groups to investigate the Battery and waterfront buildings.

From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson

Cars and batteries and plastics and metals and other things were incinerated, and a toxic plume traveled for miles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026

Several coroners have warned about the dangers posed by these batteries and have issued at least five Prevention of Future Deaths reports since 2023, with recommendations to improve public safety.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

Shipping executives warned that an exemption for small batteries from hazardous-goods rules is increasing the threat of fires on containerships.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

It wasn’t lost on the crowd that batteries made at the plant would go to a Japanese rival, not hometown hero GM.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

Each reactor had two diesel generators, as well as batteries, that could power it in an emergency.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland

Related Words

• assault