Collins English-English Dictionary

battery ['bætərɪ]

1. 1. n two or more primary cells connected together, usually in series, to provide a source of electric current

2. 2. n short for dry battery

3. 3. n another name for accumulator

4. 4. n a number of similar things occurring together

   a battery of questions

5. 5. n [criminal law] unlawful beating or wounding of a person or mere touching in a hostile or offensive manner - See also assault and battery

6. 6. n a fortified structure on which artillery is mounted

7. 7. n a group of guns, missile launchers, searchlights, or torpedo tubes of similar type or size operated as a single entity

8. 8. n a small tactical unit of artillery usually consisting of two or more troops, each of two, three or four guns

9. 9. n [chiefly Brit] a large group of cages for intensive rearing of poultry

10. 10. n (as modifier)

    battery hens

11. 11. n [psychol] a series of tests

12. 12. n [chess] two pieces of the same colour placed so that one can unmask an attack by the other by moving

13. 13. n the percussion section in an orchestra

14. 14. n [baseball] the pitcher and the catcher considered together

15. 15. n [Etymology] C16: from Old French batterie beating, from battre to beat, from Latin battuere