/ ˈbætri; NAmE ; -təri/ noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ C ] a device that is placed inside a car engine, clock, radio, etc. and that produces the electricity that makes it work :
to replace the batteries
a rechargeable battery
battery-powered / -operated
a car battery
The battery is flat (= it is no longer producing electricity) .
2.
[ C ] battery (of sth) a large number of things or people of the same type :
He faced a battery of questions.
a battery of reporters
3.
[ C ] ( technical ) a number of large guns that are used together
4.
[ C ] ( BrE ) (often used as an adjective) a number of small cages that are joined together and are used for keeping chickens, etc. in on a farm :
a battery hen
battery eggs
—compare free-range
5.
[ U ] ( law ) the crime of attacking sb physically
—see also assault and battery
•
IDIOMS
see recharge
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French baterie , from battre to strike, from Latin battuere . The original sense was metal articles wrought by hammering , later a number of pieces of artillery used together , which led to the meaning a number of Leyden jars connected up so as to discharge simultaneously (mid 18th cent.), giving rise to sense 1. The more general meanings date from the late 19th cent.