English Reference
noun

baton

n.
US /ˈbæˌtɑn/ UK /bˈætən/ ba·ton UK spelling baton's, baton's

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Music

    a thin, light stick that a conductor uses to lead an orchestra or band.

    a thin stick used by a conductor to direct a musical ensemble, providing visual cues for tempo and dynamics.

    Simple

    The conductor raised his baton, and the orchestra fell silent immediately.

    In context

    With a sharp flick of her baton, the conductor signaled the brass section to begin the dramatic finale.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

    a short tube that runners pass to each other during a relay race.

    a hollow cylinder passed between teammates in a relay race within a designated exchange zone.

    Simple

    The second runner dropped the baton during the exchange, costing the team the race.

    In context

    The national team practiced their baton exchanges for weeks to ensure a seamless transition during the Olympic final.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate Law

    a thick, heavy stick used by police officers as a weapon.

    a short, heavy truncheon or club carried by law enforcement officers as a defensive weapon.

    Simple

    The officer carried a baton on his belt for protection.

    In context

    The riot police were equipped with shields and batons to manage the escalating crowd at the protest.

    truncheonnightstickbilly club
  4. 04 C1 Advanced Technical Cooking

    a vegetable, like a carrot, cut into a thick rectangular shape.

    a vegetable cut into a small, thick stick shape, typically measuring about 6mm by 6mm by 6cm.

    Simple

    Cut the carrots into even batons before adding them to the tray for roasting.

    In context

    The chef instructed the apprentices to prepare uniform potato batons to ensure they cooked at the same rate in the fryer.

    batonnetstick
  5. 05 C2 Proficiency Formal Military

    a decorated stick carried by a high-ranking military officer as a sign of their power.

    a ceremonial staff serving as a symbol of office for a field marshal or similar high-ranking military official.

    Simple

    The general was presented with a ceremonial baton upon his promotion.

    In context

    The museum displayed the field marshal's baton, which was encrusted with gold and precious stones.

It takes me several days of waiting at traffic lights near the theatre to notice that the green man holds a baton and wears the composer’s floppy hat.

The Guardian· 10 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated