Word
battery
Phoneticsbat·tery
US/ˈbætɝi/
UK/bˈætəɹi/
Definitions
01electrical power source
A2 · Elementary Countable noun Computing
n. a device that stores electricity to power things like phones, cars, or toys.
n. a device consisting of one or more electrochemical cells that convert chemical energy into electrical energy.
“My phone is about to die because the battery is at one percent.”
“Modern electric vehicles rely on high-capacity lithium-ion batteries to achieve a range comparable to traditional internal combustion engines.”
Synonyms
02a group or series
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Academic
n. a large group of similar things, especially tests or questions.
n. a coordinated group or series of similar things, often used in the context of psychological or medical testing.
“The doctor ran a battery of tests to find out why I was feeling tired.”
“The candidate underwent a rigorous battery of psychological assessments to determine their suitability for the high-pressure role.”
03physical attack
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Law Formal · Technical
n. the crime of hitting or physically hurting another person.
n. the unlawful application of physical force to another person, legally distinct from assault which may only involve a threat.
“The man was arrested and charged with assault and battery after the fight.”
“The prosecution struggled to prove battery, as the medical evidence did not conclusively show that the physical contact was non-consensual or harmful.”
04artillery unit
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Military
n. a group of large guns or cannons used together in the army.
n. a unit of artillery weapons, equipment, and personnel organized to function together.
“The battery of cannons was positioned on the hill to defend the harbour.”
“The general ordered the battery to cease fire once the enemy's forward positions had been successfully neutralized.”
05animal cages
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun British English
n. a set of small cages used to keep many chickens in a small space for their eggs.
n. a series of small, connected cages used for intensive poultry farming.
“Many people prefer to buy free-range eggs instead of those from battery hens.”
“Animal welfare groups have long campaigned against the use of battery cages, citing the restricted movement and poor conditions for the birds.”
Antonyms
06percussion section
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Music Technical
n. the section of a marching band that plays the drums.
n. the percussion section of a marching band or drum corps, specifically the instruments carried and played while marching.
“The battery practiced their rhythm in the parking lot before the parade started.”
“The judges were particularly impressed by the battery's precision during the complex syncopated movements of the second act.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “battery” in context.
Verb
01. battery die
“My battery died right in the middle of the important phone call.”
noun + verb
02. battery last
“How long does the battery last on a single charge?”
noun + verb
03. battery run out
“We need to find a socket before the laptop battery runs out.”
noun + phrasal verb
04. charge battery
“You should charge the battery for at least eight hours before first use.”
verb + noun
05. drain battery
“Using the GPS navigation will drain the battery very quickly.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. dead battery
“I couldn't start the car this morning because of a dead battery.”
adj + noun
07. flat battery
“The phone has a flat battery, so I need to find a charger quickly.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. battery life
“The new model offers significantly better battery life than the old one.”
noun + noun
09. battery charger
“He plugged the AA cells into the battery charger overnight.”
noun + noun
10. battery level
“The screen displays the current battery level in the top corner.”
noun + noun
11. a low battery warning
“A low battery warning appeared on the tablet just as I started the video.”
12. conserve battery power
“Lower the screen brightness to conserve battery power during the flight.”
Usage
Countable when referring to the physical power cell; often used in the plural ('batteries') for small electronics.
Real-World Examples
“Panasonic Energy has developed a solid-state battery that can run at temperatures of up to 150 degrees Celsius (302 degrees Fahrenheit) and will begin sample shipments in October to December, its chief technology officer said on Wednesday.” “Stationary storage systems use lithium-ion battery cells – similar to those in EVs – that store power often generated by renewable sources like solar and wind, and release it during times of high demand or grid stress.” “A US battery startup that scrapped plans to make Kentucky the site of its first factory has instead built it in China, exposing the limits of President Donald Trump's efforts to lure manufacturing home just as he welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping for a summit.” Etymology
The term travels from Gaulish into Latin battuo, which supplies Old French baterie for the action of beating. English borrowed the word from Middle French batterie, a form that stood as a doublet of batterie. By surface analysis, the headword resolves to batter joined to -y.
The electrical sense was coined by the American polymath Benjamin Franklin, who observed that his series of Leyden jars resembled a military battery. The artillery term had long denoted a connected series of instruments, and Franklin applied the established noun to the new apparatus with straightforward analogy. The military formation supplied the label; the experimental setup merely changed the medium.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Idioms
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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