bat: Meaning and Definition of

bat

Pronunciation: (bat), [key]
— n., v., bat•ted, bat•ting.
—n.
    1. the wooden club used in certain games, as baseball and cricket, to strike the ball.
    2. a racket, esp. one used in badminton or table tennis.
    3. a whip used by a jockey.
    4. the act of using a club or racket in a game.
    5. the right or turn to use a club or racket.
  1. a heavy stick, club, or cudgel.
  2. a blow, as with a bat.
  3. any fragment of brick or hardened clay.
  4. a brick cut transversely so as to leave one end whole.
  5. speed; rate of motion or progress, esp. the pace of the stroke or step of a race.
  6. a spree; binge: to go on a bat.
    1. a sheet of gelatin or glue used in bat printing.
    2. a slab of moist clay.
    3. a ledge or shelf in a kiln.
    4. a slab of plaster for holding a piece being modeled or for absorbing excess water from slip.
  7. batt.
  8. at bat with two men in scoring position.
    1. taking one's turn to bat in a game:at bat with two men in scoring position.
    2. an instance at bat officially charged to a batter except when the batter is hit by a pitch, receives a base on balls, is interfered with by the catcher, or makes a sacrifice hit or sacrifice fly:two hits in three at bats.
  9. to intercede for; vouch for; defend: to go to bat for a friend.
  10. at once; without delay: They asked me to sing right off the bat.
—v.t.
  1. to strike or hit with or as if with a bat or club.
  2. to have a batting average of; hit: He batted .325 in spring training.
—v.i.
    1. to strike at the ball with the bat.
    2. to take one's turn as a batter.
  1. to rush.
  2. We batted the idea around.
    1. Slang.to roam; drift.
    2. Informal.to discuss or ponder; debate:We batted the idea around.
    3. Baseball.to have every player in the lineup take a turn at bat during a single inning.
  3. to cause (a run) to be scored by getting a hit: He batted in two runs with a double to left.
  4. to do, write, produce, etc., hurriedly: I have to bat out a term paper before class.
  5. See (def. 5).

bat

Pronunciation: (bat), [key]
— n.
  1. any of numerous flying mammals of the order Chiroptera, of worldwide distribution in tropical and temperate regions, having modified forelimbs that serve as wings and are covered with a membranous skin extending to the hind limbs.
  2. nearly or completely blind; having very poor vision: Anyone can tell that he's blind as a bat, but he won't wear glasses.
  3. to have crazy ideas; be very peculiar, erratic, or foolish: If you think you can row across the ocean in that boat, you have bats in your belfry.

bat

Pronunciation: (bat), [key]
— bat•ted, bat•ting.
  1. to blink; wink; flutter.
  2. to show no emotion or surprise; maintain a calm exterior: The murderer didn't bat an eye when the jury announced its verdict of guilty.

bat.

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. battalion.
  2. battery.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also:
  • bat (Thesaurus)