n. & v.
n. 1 a number of things or persons forming a group or dealt with together. 2 an instalment (have sent off the latest batch). 3 the loaves produced at one baking. 4 (attrib.) using or dealt with in batches, not as a continuous flow (batch production). 5 Computing a group of records processed as a single unit.
v.tr. arrange or deal with in batches.
[ ME f. OE bcce f. bacan BAKE ]