# bat

/ˈbæt/ (US) · /bˈæt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bat
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. flying mammal

noun · CEFR A2

a small animal like a mouse with wings that flies at night.

For teachers: a nocturnal flying mammal of the order Chiroptera, characterized by forelimbs modified into wings.

- We saw a bat fly out of the cave just as the sun went down.
- Ecologists are monitoring the local bat population to see how the new highway affects their nocturnal hunting patterns.

### 2. sports equipment

noun · CEFR A2

a long piece of wood or metal used to hit the ball in games like baseball or cricket.

For teachers: a club-shaped implement, typically made of wood or composite materials, used for striking the ball in various field games.

- He grabbed his baseball bat and ran out to the field.
- The professional cricketer selected a heavy willow bat, checking the grain of the wood for any signs of weakness before the match.

### 3. to hit a ball

verb · CEFR B1

to take your turn hitting the ball in a game.

For teachers: to take a turn as the hitter in sports such as baseball or cricket; to strike a ball with a bat.

- Our team is going to bat first in the second half of the game.
- The captain decided to bat first after winning the toss, hoping to set a high score on the dry pitch.

### 4. to flutter eyelashes

verb · CEFR B2

to open and close your eyes quickly, usually to get attention.

For teachers: to flutter the eyelashes, often as a flirtatious or feigned innocent gesture; usually used in the phrase 'to bat one's eyelashes'.

- She didn't say a word, she just batted her eyelashes and smiled.
- He tried to look innocent by batting his eyelashes, but the teacher knew exactly who had started the argument.

### 5. an old woman

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

an unkind way to describe an old woman who is annoying or strange.

For teachers: a derogatory term for an elderly woman, implying she is eccentric, unpleasant, or unattractive.

- The neighbor is a bit of an old bat, always complaining about the noise.
- Though the character was written as a bitter old bat, the actress brought a surprising amount of vulnerability to the role.

### 6. speed

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

the speed at which something happens.

For teachers: the rate of motion or speed, most commonly found in the idiomatic expression 'right off the bat'.

- I knew right off the bat that we were going to be great friends.
- The new CEO made several major changes right off the bat, surprising the board with her decisive leadership style.

### 7. Chinese tech giants

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a name for the three biggest technology companies in China: Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent.

For teachers: An acronymic collective noun referring to the dominant Chinese technology firms Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent.

- Investors are closely watching the BAT companies for growth in the Asian market.
- The regulatory crackdown on the BAT group has significantly altered the landscape of the Chinese digital economy.

## Examples

- The player swings the bat and hits the ball.
- We watched a bat fly out from under the bridge just as the sun began to set.
- While most people associate the bat with darkness and caves, these mammals play a crucial role in the ecosystem by consuming vast quantities of insects every night.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.