bat ‧ ter ‧ y S2 /ˈbæt ə ri/ BrE AmE noun ( plural batteries )
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: baterie , from batre 'to hit' ; ]
[ Sense 4: Origin: from the idea of hitting with gunfire; ]
[ Sense 1: Origin: from the idea of a group of electricity-producing cells joined together ]
1 . ELECTRICITY [countable] an object that provides a supply of electricity for something such as a radio, car, or toy:
You have to take the top off to change the batteries.
When the red light comes on, you should recharge the battery.
The car’s got a flat battery.
a battery-operated hairdryer
2 . a battery of something a group of many things of the same type:
a battery of medical tests
3 . FARM [countable] British English a row of small ↑ cage s in which chickens are kept, so that the farm can produce large numbers of eggs:
battery hens
⇨ ↑ free-range
4 . GUNS [countable] several large guns used together:
an anti-aircraft battery
5 . CRIME [uncountable] law the crime of hitting someone:
He was charged with assault and battery.
⇨ ↑ assault and battery
6 . recharge your batteries informal to rest or relax in order to get back your energy:
A week in the mountains should recharge my batteries.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ flat British English , dead American English (=with no more electricity in it)
I'd left the headlights on and the battery was completely flat.
▪ low (=with little electricity in it)
He could see the battery was low on his laptop.
▪ a car/torch/phone etc battery
Have you checked your mobile phone battery?
▪ a rechargeable battery (=one that you can put more electricity in and use again)
The camera uses rechargeable batteries.
▪ a spare battery (=an extra one, in case you need it)
Take a torch and spare batteries.
■ verbs
▪ change/replace the battery (=put a new battery in something)
You may need to change the battery in the smoke alarm.
▪ charge/recharge a battery (=put more electricity in it)
It takes eight hours to fully recharge the battery.
▪ use batteries ( also run on batteries )
The clock runs on two 9-volt batteries.
▪ put a battery in
She had put new batteries in the radio.
▪ take a battery out
I''ll take the batteries out while I'm not using it.
■ nouns
▪ a battery charger (=a piece of equipment for charging batteries)
Don't forget to pack your battery charger.
▪ battery power
You can plug your laptop in or use it on battery power.
▪ battery life (=how long a battery produces electricity)
My old phone had a longer battery life.
■ phrases
▪ battery powered/operated
A lot of children's toys are battery operated.