bat1 nounbat2 verb
batbat1 /bæt/ ●●● S3 noun [countable] 
WORD ORIGINbat1
Origin:
1,5-7 1500-1600 back ‘bat’ (14-16 centuries), probably from a Scandinavian language. 2-4 Old English battEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- Felt queasy after, but swung the bat okay and then came back to the hotel, which is small but clean.
- Noctuid moths are eaten by bats, and have evolved a special pair of ears to warn them of approaching danger.
- Our classmates tested five bats from K. C. Slammer.
- The murder is perfectly executed, except that the baseball bat left at the scene of the crime is sticky with fingerprints.
- The tunnel is a place only a bat could love.
- This is tested by gagging the bats before releasing them.
- Upon being blocked off from the courtyard, the bat would soon have led him to freedom.
Longman Language Activatorwhen you do something immediately
if you know something at a glance , you only need to look quickly in order to know immediately what is happening, how someone feels etc: can see/tell (something) at a glance: · I could see at a glance that the situation was serious.· An expert can tell at a glance whether it's a real diamond or a fake.
if you do something on the spot , you do it immediately, without taking time to think about the situation, without waiting for official permission etc: · I was so angry I almost resigned on the spot.· The police can fine motorists on the spot for driving offences.· Look, I can't give you a decision on the spot. I'll have to talk to my boss first.
if you do something or decide something there and then or then and there , you do it immediately and without stopping to think or delaying your decision until a later time: · When Kate knew John was seeing someone else, she should have left him then and there.· This time I'd gone too far, and I quit drinking there and then.
informal if you answer a question or provide information off the top of your head , you do it immediately, using information you already know, and without thinking about it or trying to find out more about it: · "How old is Chris?" "I don't know off the top of my head."· There are some good restaurants around here, but I can't tell you their names off the top of my head.
American informal if you do or say something right off or right off the bat , you do it or say it immediately, without taking time to think about it: · I couldn't think of a reply right off.· We let them know right off the bat that we weren't going with them.
unable to see very well unable to see things that are far away: · 'Are you short-sighted then?' 'Yeah, can't see a thing without my lenses.'
British /far-sighted American only able to see things that are far away and unable to see things that are close to you such as the writing in a book: · My daughter's long-sighted and wears reading glasses.· Many people become far-sighted as they grow older.
not able to see things very well at all, although not completely blind: · Tape copies are available free of charge to blind and partially sighted people.· I am partially sighted, which makes me a lot more vulnerable.
completely blind or unable to see much - use this especially to talk about special services or equipment for this group of people: · Instructions can also be obained in Braille for the visually impaired.· Visually impaired people have as much right to full access to educational courses as anyone else.
informal having great difficulty in seeing things: · Didn't you see me coming? You must be as blind as a bat!· She's as blind as a bat without her glasses.
WORD SETSaardvark, nounadder, nounAfghan, nounalley cat, nounalligator, nounalpaca, nounAlsatian, nounamphibian, nounamphibious, adjectiveangora, nounanimal, nounanteater, nounantelope, nounanthropoid, adjectiveantler, nounape, nounappaloosa, nounarachnid, nounarmadillo, nounasp, nounass, nounbaa, verbbaboon, nounbaby, nounbadger, nounbantam, nounbark, verbbark, nounbarnacle, nounbasset, nounbat, nounbay, nounbay, verbbay, adjectivebeagle, nounbear, nounbeast, nounbeast of burden, nounbeaver, nounbellow, verbbellow, nounbelly, nounbig cat, nounbig game, nounbighorn sheep, nounbilly goat, nounbiped, nounbison, nounbitch, nounbivalve, nounbleat, verbbloodhound, nounbloodstream, nounblow-hole, nounboa, nounboar, nounbobcat, nounbovine, adjectivebow-wow, nounboxer, nounbrainwave, nounbrindled, adjectivebristle, verbbronc, nounbronco, nounbrontosaurus, nounbrush, nounbuck, nounbuffalo, nounbull, nounbulldog, nounbullfrog, nounbullock, nounbull terrier, nounburro, nounburrow, nouncalf, nouncall, nouncalve, verbcamel, nouncanine, adjectivecanine, nouncarapace, nouncarcass, nouncaribou, nouncarnivore, nouncarthorse, nouncat, nouncattle, nouncaudal, adjectivecayman, nouncetacean, nounchameleon, nounchamois, nouncheetah, nounchestnut, nounchickadee, nounchicken, nounchihuahua, nounchimpanzee, nounchinchilla, nounchipmunk, nounchow, nounclaw, nouncloven hoof, nouncoat, nouncob, nouncobra, nouncocker spaniel, nouncold-blooded, adjectivecollie, nouncolouring, nouncolt, nouncomb, nounconnective tissue, nouncony, nouncoon, nouncopperhead, nouncorgi, nouncougar, nouncourtship, nouncow, nouncoyote, nouncoypu, nouncrest, nouncrocodile, nouncrop, verbcrustacean, nouncry, nouncub, nouncur, noundachshund, nounDalmatian, noundeer, nounden, noundentine, noundingo, noundinosaur, noundoe, noundog, noundolphin, noundomesticate, verbdonkey, noundormouse, noundorsal, adjectivedromedary, nounduckbilled platypus, nounearthworm, nounelephant, nounelk, nounentrails, nounermine, nounewe, nounexcreta, nounexcretion, nounfallopian tube, nounfallow deer, nounfang, nounfauna, nounfawn, nounfeed, nounfeeler, nounfeline, adjectivefeline, nounfemale, adjectivefemale, nounferal, adjectiveferret, nounfetlock, nounfieldmouse, nounfilly, nounfin, nounfleece, nounflipper, nounflying fox, nounfoal, nounfoal, verbfoetus, nounforefoot, nounforeleg, nounfox, nounfoxhound, nounfox terrier, nounFriesian, nounfrog, nounfrogspawn, nounfruit bat, nounfur, nounfurry, adjectivegarter snake, noungazelle, noungecko, noungeese, gelding, noungerbil, nounGerman shepherd, noungestation, noungiant panda, noungibbon, noungiraffe, noungnu, noungoat, noungolden retriever, noungopher, noungorilla, noungregarious, adjectivegreyhound, noungroundhog, nounground squirrel, noungrunt, verbguinea pig, nounhack, nounhackles, nounhairless, adjectivehamster, nounhare, nounhart, nounhaunch, nounhedgehog, nounheifer, nounhen, nounherbivore, nounherd, nounhermit crab, nounhibernate, verbhind, adjectivehind, nounhindquarters, nounhippo, nounhippopotamus, nounhock, nounhog, nounhoof, nounhorned, adjectivehorse, nounhound, nounhowl, verbhump, nounhusky, nounhyaena, nounhybrid, nounhyena, nounibex, nouniguana, nounimpala, nouninbred, adjectiveinbreeding, nouninsectivore, nouninterbreed, verbinvertebrate, nounjackal, nounjackrabbit, nounjaguar, nounjellyfish, nounJersey, nounkangaroo, nounkid, nounkoala, nounkookaburra, nounLabrador, nounlair, nounlamb, nounlemming, nounleopard, nounlion, nounlioness, nounlitter, nounlitter, verblizard, nounllama, nounlonghorn, nounlugworm, nounlynx, nounmale, nounmamba, nounmammal, nounmammary, adjectivemammoth, nounmandible, nounmandrill, nounmane, nounman-eater, nounmare, nounmarmoset, nounmarsupial, nounmarten, nounmastitis, nounmate, nounmate, verbmating, nounmaw, nounmenagerie, nounmew, verbmiaow, verbmice, nounmigrant, nounmilk, verbmimic, verbmimic, nounmink, nounmole, nounmollusc, nounmongoose, nounmongrel, nounmonkey, nounmoo, verbmoose, nounmoult, verbmountain goat, nounmountain lion, nounmouse, nounmule, nounmuskrat, nounmussel, nounmustang, nounmutt, nounmuzzle, nounnag, nounnanny goat, nounnative, adjectivenative, nounnest, nounnewt, nounnocturnal, adjectiveocelot, nounoctopus, nounoffspring, nounoink, interjectionokapi, nounOld English sheepdog, nounomnivore, nounomnivorous, adjectiveopossum, nounorangutang, nounotter, nounox, nounpachyderm, nounpack, nounpad, nounpair, nounpanda, nounpanther, nounparasite, nounparasitic, adjectivepaw, nounpaw, verbpeccary, nounpedigree, adjectivepeke, nounPekinese, nounpelt, nounPersian cat, nounpest, nounpheasant, nounpiebald, adjectivepied, adjectivepig, nounpiggy, nounpiglet, nounpincer, nounpine marten, nounpinto, nounpit bull terrier, nounpit pony, nounplankton, nounplate, nounplatypus, nounpointer, nounpolar bear, nounpolecat, nounpolyp, nounpony, nounpooch, nounpoodle, nounporcupine, nounporker, nounporpoise, nounPortuguese man-of-war, nounpossum, nounpouch, nounprairie dog, nounprance, verbpredation, nounpredator, nounpredatory, adjectiveprehensile, adjectiveprey, nounprickle, nounpride, nounprimate, nounproboscis, nounprocreate, verbprowl, verbpterodactyl, nounpuffin, nounpug, nounpullet, nounpuma, nounpup, nounpurebred, adjectivepurr, verbpussy, nounpython, nounquack, verbquadruped, nounquill, nounrabbit, nounrabbit warren, nounrabid, adjectiveraccoon, nounracoon, nounram, nounrat, nounrattler, nounrattlesnake, nounravening, adjectivereindeer, nounreptile, nounretract, verbretriever, nounrhesus monkey, nounrhino, nounrhinoceros, nounroan, nounrodent, nounroe deer, nounrottweiler, nounruminant, nounruminate, verbrump, nounrunt, nounrut, nounsable, nounsac, nounsalamander, nounsausage dog, nounscavenge, verbschool, nounscorpion, nounseal, nounsea lion, nounseashell, nounsea urchin, nounsemen, nounserpent, nounsetter, nounsex, verbshed, verbsheep, nounsheepdog, nounShetland pony, nounshire horse, nounshrew, nounshrimp, nounSiamese cat, nounsilkworm, nounsimian, adjectivesire, nounskin, nounskunk, nounsloth, nounslug, nounsnail, nounsnake, nounsnakebite, nounsnarl, verbsniffer dog, nounsnout, nounsocial, adjectivesow, nounspaniel, nounspawn, verbspawn, nounsperm whale, nounsponge, nounspoor, nounspore, nounspringbok, nounsquid, nounsquirrel, nounstag, nounstallion, nounstarfish, nounSt Bernard, nounsteed, nounsteer, nounsting, nounstinger, nounstoat, nounstomach, nounstray, adjectivestray, nounstud, nounsucker, nounsuckle, verbsuckling, nounswine, nountadpole, nountail, nountame, adjectivetame, verbtapeworm, nountapir, nounteat, nountentacle, nounterrapin, nounterrier, nounterritorial, adjectiveterritory, nountiger, nountigress, nountoad, nountom, nountomcat, nountooth, nountortoise, nountortoiseshell, nountrumpet, verbtrunk, nountufted, adjectiveturtle, nountusk, nountyrannosaurus, nounudder, nounuterus, nounvampire bat, nounvent, nounvermin, nounvertebrate, nounvicuña, nounviper, nounvivarium, nounvixen, nounvole, nounwag, verbwallaby, nounwallow, verbwalrus, nounwarm-blooded, adjectivewarren, nounwarthog, nounwater buffalo, nounwater rat, nounwater vole, nounweasel, nounweevil, nounwhale, nounwhelk, nounwhelp, nounwhelp, verbwhinny, verbwhippet, nounwhisker, nounwild boar, nounwildcat, nounwildebeest, nounwildfowl, nounwinkle, nounwithers, nounwolf, nounwolfhound, nounwombat, nounwool, nounyak, nounyap, verbyap, nounyearling, nounyelp, nounYorkshire terrier, nounyoung, nounzebra, nounzoologist, nounzoology, nounzygote, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
(=that you use to hit the ball)
· We'd better do a bit of batting practice before the game.
American English (=immediately, without having to think carefully)
Kay answered right off the bat.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN Kay answered right off the bat.· The others, the storm-troopers or Sturmabteilungen, would spread through the crowds, wielding clubs, baseball bats and sometimes knives.· Families with children carrying picnic baskets, thermoses, baseball bats, shoulder bags.· Get tooled up with baseball bats and go smash some windows in some club.· Three of the seven players told investigators they put Tiger in a bag and beat her with baseball bats.· A few feet away, a baseball bat crushed a schoolteacher's head, smashed his skull into a pulpy mess.· It feels like a kick in the stomach or a blow with a baseball bat.· I heave on the baseball bat, and wrench the chain from the big guy's hand.· One of her cases involved a 17-year-old girl whose father routinely attacked the family, once with a baseball bat.
· Taking a cricket bat to the audition isn't a bad idea although you can get the same effect with an umbrella.· The one best cricket bat of his youth was becoming the one best Midvale.· Richardson was the inventor of the cane-spliced cricket bat and a catapult for bowling which was successfully used for many years.· The following Summer in London, while shopping for a cricket bat, his journal fills with prices and estimates of quality.· Opposite: The cricket bat was made by John Wisden & Co.· Peters & Son, a store carrying ship models and archery equipment along with cricket bats, particularly draws his attention.· Suddenly I was jumping, yelling out as the flagstone beat my feet like a cudgel or stone cricket bat.· In the event, Hilary rummaged around in the gym and found a cricket bat and ball.
VERB· The following season, he carried his bat for a brilliant 215 not out against Lancashire at Old Trafford.· I carry the bat, the glove.
· Felt queasy after, but swung the bat okay and then came back to the hotel, which is small but clean.· I kept swinging the bat, but by now Guy and Carmine had biked out of range and were looking back.· We have the hitter sit on the ball swinging a bat.· Both throw a lot of strikes and both make hitters swing the bat early in the count.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► be at batPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1- I drove like a bat out of hell to the hospital.
- They took off like a bat out of hell for Tan Son Nhut.
- But smoking was obviously kosher as far as this old bat went.
- I stuck some in once when we were a bit short and the old bat threatened to stop it out of my wages.
- Most of our women in the House are frightful old bats.
- She's a real old bat, she is.
- The old bat led me astray in more ways than one.
- The old bats included a plastic, an aluminum and a wooden one.
- He had made the most ancient blunder in the business quite off his own bat.
- Instead, off her own bat, the girl went to see a solicitor in Newton Abbott, Devon.
- I asked him to help, and he said yes right off the bat.
- At least not right off the bat.
- Didn't you see me coming? You must be as blind as a bat!
- I'm as blind as a bat without my glasses.
- Am I to be troubled by a skinny old fool in mirror shades?
- An old fool if you like.
- But then the old fool should have been a little less unwashed and boring.
- He was no more to her, he thought, than a tiresome old man, an old fool.
- Look there that old fool Broom, slipped off to sleep.
- She thought what an undecided old fool Phoebe was, but it made her outburst at the Frolic all the more courageous.
- The old bats included a plastic, an aluminum and a wooden one.
a small animal like a mouse with wings that flies around at night → fruit bat2a)a long wooden stick with a special shape that is used in some sports and games: a baseball bat a cricket bat b)British English a round flat piece of wood with a handle, used to hit a ball in table tennis SYN paddle American English3be at bat to be the person who is trying to hit the ball in a game of baseball4do something off your own bat British English informal to do something without being told to do it: She went to see a solicitor off her own bat.5do something right off the bat American English informal to do something immediately: He said yes right off the bat.6like a bat out of hell informal very fast: I drove like a bat out of hell to the hospital.7old bat spoken an unpleasant old woman → as blind as a bat at blind1bat1 nounbat2 verb
batbat2 verb (past tense and past participle batted, present participle batting) WORD ORIGINbat2
Origin:
1, 4-5 1400-1500 ➔ BAT1 (2)2-3 1800-1900 Probably from bate ‘to beat the wings’ (13-20 centuries), from Old French batre ‘to hit’VERB TABLE
bat
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | bat |
| he, she, it | bats | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | batted |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have batted |
| he, she, it | has batted | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had batted |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will bat |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have batted |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am batting |
| he, she, it | is batting | |
| you, we, they | are batting | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was batting |
| you, we, they | were batting | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been batting |
| he, she, it | has been batting | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been batting |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be batting |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been batting |
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- After the hearing you return to the gallery to bat out a quick story.
- He batted 205 minutes in the second innings, making 65 not out.
- I noticed that she blinked a lot and, at times, seemed to be trying to bat away the dust.
- In a tight match at Christleton visitors Oakmere batted first and set a total of 165 for five, Paul Matthews 66.
- Laxman batted for 12 hours in two innings over three days here, and naturally was man of the match.
WORD SETS
balk, verbball game, nounball park, nounballplayer, nounbase, nounbaseline, nounbat, verbbatter, nounblooper, nounbreak, nounbull pen, nounbunt, verbcatch, verbcatcher, nouncentre, noundesignated hitter, noundiamond, noundouble, noundouble, verbdouble-header, noundouble play, nounfastball, nounfirst base, nounfly, verbfly, nounfly ball, nounfoul, verbgrand slam, noungrounder, nounheavy hitter, nounhome base, nounhome plate, nounhomer, nounhome run, nouninfield, nouninning, nounmidfielder, nounmitt, nounmound, nounpark, nounpinch-hit, verbpitch, nounpitch, verbpitcher, nounpitchout, nounplate, nounpop fly, nounrebound, verbrebound, nounrun, nounshortstop, nounshut-out, nounsingle, nounslam dunk, nounslugger, nounspring training, nounsteal, verbstrikeout, nountriple, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
(=that you use to hit the ball)
· We'd better do a bit of batting practice before the game.
American English (=immediately, without having to think carefully) Kay answered right off the bat.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN Kay answered right off the bat.· Susan, my long suffering wife, who never batted an eyelid as this project unfolded and gave me lots of encouragement.· None of the regulars batted an eyelid, but the sweaty faces of the dance-crazy Glaswegians fell. 2.30?· And farmers watching a demonstration of grass cutters didn't bat an eyelid at the state of the pasture.· Nothing much ever happened in Surrey Hills, and nobody batted an eyelid.· Today, no-one bats an eyelid as he takes a stroll along the ley-lines of Wiltshire.· In fact she didn't bat an eyelid.· Did saints ever bat their eyelids and look sleepily self-satisfied as cats?· Tom didn't bat an eyelid at the warm fog.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► bat your eyes/eyelashes► be batting a thousandPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1[intransitive, transitive] to hit the ball with a bat in cricket or baseball2not bat an eye/eyelid informal to not seem to be shocked, surprised, or embarrassed: - He used to tell the worst lies without batting an eye.
- Rene went to bat for me with the director and I ended up getting the part.
- Didn't you see me coming? You must be as blind as a bat!
- I'm as blind as a bat without my glasses.
- Am I to be troubled by a skinny old fool in mirror shades?
- An old fool if you like.
- But then the old fool should have been a little less unwashed and boring.
- He was no more to her, he thought, than a tiresome old man, an old fool.
- Look there that old fool Broom, slipped off to sleep.
- She thought what an undecided old fool Phoebe was, but it made her outburst at the Frolic all the more courageous.
- The old bats included a plastic, an aluminum and a wooden one.
They started talking about sex, but she didn’t bat an eyelid.3bat your eyes/eyelashes if a woman bats her eyes, she opens and closes them several times quickly, in order to look attractive to men4go to bat for somebody American English informal to help and support someone5be batting a thousand American English informal to be very successful: She’s been batting a thousand since she got that job.bat something ↔ around phrasal verb informal to discuss various ideas or suggestions