Pronunciations (4)
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/bæt/
Pronunciation notes
- Australia
- Received-Pronunciation
- US
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/bat/
Pronunciation notes
- British
- Northern-England
- Scotland
- Southern
- Standard
- Wales
-
/bɛt/
Pronunciation notes
- New-Zealand
-
bæt
Noun
Any flying mammal of the order Chiroptera, usually small and nocturnal, insectivorous or frugivorous.
- Synonyms
- Examples
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More examples (2)
The Bat—they called him the Bat. Like a bat he chose the night hours for his work of rapine; like a bat he struck and vanished, pouncingly, noiselessly; like a bat he never showed himself to the face of the day.
As well as being worth millions of dollars to the Texan agriculture industry, these mammals are worth millions of dollars to the state’s tourism industry. Texas is home to the world’s largest known bat colony (in Comal County), and the world’s largest urban bat colony (in Austin). Bat watching is a common activity, with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department offering more bat-viewing sites than anywhere else in the US.
An old woman.
Usage- Derogatory
- Examples
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"Isn't it lovely?" I smiled and thought: "Yes it is. It's also a Blackbird, you silly old bat!
Noun
A club, made of wood like a baseball bat or otherwise, used as a weapon
A club made of wood or aluminium used for striking the ball in sports such as baseball, softball and cricket.
A turn at hitting the ball with a bat in a game.
- Examples
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You've been in for ages. Can I have a bat now?
A player rated according to skill in batting.
- Examples
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He's a good fielder and a valuable bat.
The piece of wood on which the spinner places the coins and then uses for throwing them.
Shale or bituminous shale.
- Examples
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bituminous shale ; which miners , if I mistake not , call bat
A sheet of cotton used for filling quilts or comfortables; batting.
A part of a brick with one whole end.
A stroke; a sharp blow.
A stroke of work.
Usage- Scotland
- UK usage
- dialectal
Rate of motion; speed.
Usage- Informal
- Examples
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On starting, The Nun led at a very slow pace for a quarter of a mile, when the Shrigley colt made running at a good bat.
a vast host of fowl […] making at full bat for the North Sea.
A spree; a jollification; a binge, jag.
Usage- US usage
- Dated
- Slang
Manner; rate; condition; state of health.
Usage- Scotland
- UK usage
- dialectal
A rough walking stick.
Usage- Kent
- Examples
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So ſlides he dovvne vppon his greyned bat; / And comely diſtant ſits he by her ſide, […]
Verb
To hit with a bat or (figuratively) as if with a bat.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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He batted the ball away with a satisfying thwack.
We batted a few ideas around.
To take a turn at hitting a ball with a bat in sports like cricket, baseball and softball, as opposed to fielding.
Usage- Intransitive
To strike or swipe as though with a bat.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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The cat batted at the toy.
To bate or flutter, as a hawk.
Usage- UK usage
- dialectal
- Obsolete
Verb
To flutter
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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to bat one’s eyelashes
To wink.
Usage- UK usage
- US usage
- dialectal
To flit quickly from place to place.
Usage- Intransitive
- usually
- with ‘around’ or ‘about’
- Examples
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I’ve spent all week batting around the country.
The "Star" is batting along at about a mile a minute, chattering away at the chimney and snatching small coal off the shovel.
Noun
A packsaddle.
Usage- Obsolete
Noun
A child's shoe without a welt.
Usage- UK usage
- dialectal
- Obsolete
- Examples
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More examples (1)
The retailer who sells a little girl a pretty pair of shoes today instead of a pair of bats, is bound to sell that girl, when she grows up, a pair of stylish $3 or $4 shoes instead of her buying a pair of $1.98 bargain bats elsewhere.
A boot that is badly made or in poor condition.
Usage- UK usage
- Obsolete
- Slang
Noun
nocturnal mouselike mammal with forelimbs modified to form membranous wings and anatomical adaptations for echolocation by which they navigate
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
(baseball) a turn trying to get a hit
- Synonyms
- Examples
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he was at bat when it happened
he got four hits in four at-bats
a small racket with a long handle used for playing squash
- Synonyms
the club used in playing cricket
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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a cricket bat has a narrow handle and a broad flat end for hitting
a club used for hitting a ball in various games
- Broader terms
Verb
strike with, or as if with a baseball bat
- Broader terms
- Examples
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bat the ball
wink briefly
- Synonyms
- Examples
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bat one's eyelids
have a turn at bat
- Broader terms
- Examples
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Jones bats first, followed by Martinez
use a bat
- Broader terms
- Examples
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Who's batting?
beat thoroughly and conclusively in a competition or fight
- Examples
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We licked the other team on Sunday!