ˈbad.ərē, -atərē, -a.trē, -ri noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle French & French batterie, from Old French, beating, from battre to beat — more at bat
1. : metal or metal articles especially of brass or copper wrought by hammering ; specifically : metallic kitchen utensils
2.
a. : the act of battering or beating
b. : the unlawful beating of another including every willful, angry and violent, or negligent unlawful touching of another's person or clothes or anything attached to his person or held by him — compare assault 3a
c. obsolete : bombardment
keep the bulwark fronts from battery — Christopher Marlowe
3.
a. : a temporary grouping (as of mortars or searchlights) for tactical purposes
b.
(1) : the entire armament of a warship
(2) : a group of a warship's guns
the starboard battery
the main battery
4.
a. : an emplacement where artillery is mounted
a fortress crowned with batteries — S.P.B.Mais
b.
(1) : sinkbox
(2) : a blind usually of turf used on English and Scottish moors especially by grouse shooters
5. : the basic tactical and administrative artillery unit usually consisting of from two to six pieces with the necessary personnel, transportation, communications, and equipment — compare company
6.
a. : a combination of apparatus for producing a single electrical effect
a battery of dynamos
b.
(1) : a group of two or more cells connected together to furnish electric current
(2) : a single voltaic cell
7.
a. : a number of similar articles, devices, or machines arranged, connected, or used together : set , series , group
a battery of files
a battery of roman candles
a battery of coke ovens
a battery of exhausted brooms and mops leaned against the rail — Philip Wylie
as
(1) : a group or series of tests especially of intelligence or personality given to a subject as an aid in psychological analysis
(2) : a series of cages or compartments for raising or fattening poultry
(3) : a closely packed group of nematocysts on the tentacle of a coelenterate
b. : an imposing series or group of similar things : array
has equipped his book with … a formidable battery of prepublication comments — Robert Bierstedt
c. : an impressive group of persons having similar characteristics, occupations, or interests
a battery of specialists … all testified that the bill was too high — Milton Silverman
d. : a group of bulls kept for breeding
8.
a. : the position of readiness (of a gun) for firing
the breechblock failed to close and the gun would not return to battery — Infantry Journal
in battery
out of battery
b. : the part of a flintlock the flint strikes against in firing
9.
a. : a series of usually five stamps operated in one box or mortar for crushing ores
b. : the box in which such stamps are operated
10. : a tank with its electrical and chemical accessories in which an electrotype shell is formed by electrodeposition
11. : the pitcher and catcher of a baseball team
12. : the percussion section of an orchestra