English Reference
noun · verb

batch

n. · v.
US /ˈbætʃ/ UK /bˈætʃ/ batch UK spelling batches, batching

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    n.a group of things that are made, delivered, or dealt with at one time.

    n.a quantity of goods produced or dispatched at one time, or a collection of similar items handled as a single unit.

    Simple

    I baked a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies for the party.

    In context

    The warehouse manager confirmed that the latest batch of components had arrived with several significant defects in the packaging.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Computing

    n.a set of data or computer jobs that are processed all at once.

    n.a set of data or instructions processed by a computer as a single continuous operation without manual intervention.

    Simple

    The system processes the batch of invoices every night at midnight.

    In context

    The server crashed while attempting to execute a large batch of automated updates during the scheduled maintenance window.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency British EnglishDialect Cooking

    n.a small, round piece of bread.

    n.a regional term for a bread roll, specifically used in parts of the English Midlands.

    Simple

    He bought a bacon batch from the local bakery for breakfast.

    In context

    While 'roll' is common elsewhere, a customer in Coventry would typically ask for a 'batch' when ordering a sandwich.

    rollbunbap
  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.to put things into groups so they can be dealt with together.

    v.to arrange or collect items into groups for more efficient processing. Transitive use.

    Simple

    You can save time if you batch your emails and answer them all at once.

    In context

    The software is designed to batch incoming requests to reduce the load on the central database during peak hours.


Etymology 1

From Middle English bach, bache, bahche, from Old English bæċċ (“something baked”), of uncertain origin, but possibly from Proto-West Germanic bakku, from Proto-Germanic *bakkuz (“baking, baked goods”), cognate with Middle High German becke (“something baked, pastry, baking, bakery”). Related also to Old English bacan (“to bake”), Old English ġebæc (“something baked”), Dutch gebak, German Gebäck, Dutch baksel.

Etymology 2

From Middle English bache, bæcche, from Old English bæċ, beċe (“brook, stream”). Doublet of beck. More at beach.

Etymology 3

Clipping of bachelor (“unmarried adult male”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin gem-pro *bakkuz
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated