battery
/ˈbæt.ər.i/- 1.
A device that stores electricity and gives power to things like phones, remotes, and cars. It can be rechargeable or single-use.
- My phone battery is low.
- I bought a new battery for the remote.
- This laptop has a long battery life.
- 2.
A group of guns, tools, or similar things used together. This meaning is more formal and common in military or technical writing.
- The army moved the artillery battery forward.
- A battery of tests checked the machine.
- The ship carried a battery of weapons.
- 3.
A series of unfair attacks, often physical or verbal. This use is less common in everyday English and often appears in news or legal writing.
- He faced a battery of questions.
- The report described a battery of assaults.
- She accused him of battery.
Adinary Nuance
Battery is more general than power cell or accumulator, and it is the everyday word most speakers use for portable power. In technical contexts, battery can mean a set of related devices or tests, not only electricity. In legal English, battery means physical assault, so context is important. People rarely use it to mean only the single part inside a device unless they say a battery pack or cell.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- pin
- Spanish
- batería
- Chinese
- 电池
- Japanese
- 電池
- Korean
- 배터리
Etymology
Battery came into English in the 1500s from French batterie, from battre meaning 'to beat'. The electricity meaning developed in the 1800s, first for a group of connected cells.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between battery and cell?
- A cell is one unit. A battery often means one or more cells working together.
- Is battery a countable noun?
- Yes. You can say one battery, two batteries, and so on.
- What does battery mean in law?
- In law, battery means unlawful physical contact or assault.
- Is battery used in academic writing?
- Yes, especially in phrases like a battery of tests or a battery of instruments.