battery
noun
Simple meaning
a device that stores power to run electric things
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
batereeSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈbætɚi
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
metonymicinformaluncountable
The energy stored in such a device.
originally and sometimes stillstrictly
Such a device that has multiple cells.
The state of a firearm or cannon when it is possible to be fired.
An array of similar things.
A set of small cages where hens are kept for the purpose of farming their eggs.
electricityelectronicscountable
A device used to power electric devices, consisting of one or more electrically connected electrochemical cells or (archaically) electrostatic cells.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- A1 · Beginner (estimated)
- Frequency
- Very Common
- Typical Use
- General English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: (originally and sometimes still, strictly) Such a device that has multiple cells.
Used this way, battery is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Nearby words
- electric battery , rarer, so it draws attention
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Street name for lysergic acid diethylamide.
A device that can hold a rechargeable battery by means of an electrical cable.
An assault in which the assailant makes physical contact.
A lead-acid storage battery in a motor vehicle.
Battery for supplying a constant positive voltage to the plate of a vacuum tube.
Battery used to maintain the grid potential in a vacuum tube.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Synonyms
Sense: energy stored in such a device
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.