1. 1. The act of beating or pounding.
   2. Law. The unlawful and unwanted touching or striking of one person by another, with the intention of bringing about a harmful or offensive contact.
2. 1. An emplacement for one or more pieces of artillery.
   2. A set of guns or other heavy artillery, as on a warship.
   3. An army artillery unit, corresponding to a company in the infantry.
3. 1. An array of similar things intended for use together: took a battery of achievement tests.
   2. An impressive body or group: a battery of political supporters.
4. Baseball. The pitcher and catcher.
5. Music. The percussion section of an orchestra.
6. Electricity.
   1. Two or more connected cells that produce a direct current by converting chemical energy to electrical energy.
   2. A single cell, such as a dry cell, that produces an electric current.

[Middle English batri, forged metal ware, from Old French baterie, a beating, from batre, to batter. See batter¹.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.