batteries

Noun

battery (countable and uncountable, plural batteries)

1. (countable) A device used to power electric devices, consisting of one or more electrically connected electrochemical cells or (archaically) electrostatic cells.
   • alkaline battery
   1. (strictly) Such a device that has multiple cells.
      • Her phone needs a new battery because its present battery no longer holds a charge well.
2. (informal, metonymically, uncountable) The energy stored in such a device.
   • Her phone did not have enough battery for another phone call.
3. The infliction of unlawful physical violence on a person, legally distinguished from assault, which involves the threat of impending violence.
   • Holonym: assault and battery
4. (collective, countable) A coordinated group of artillery weapons, with any of various numbers of guns.
   • Outside the ancient fort, you can still see worn areas in the stone where the batteries were once placed.
   1. (collective) Such a group of a certain size (number of guns and artillerists), within a schema of military unit organization.
      • They sent four batteries southward in an attempt to shore up the defenses around the depot.

See all 16 meanings of battery