bat
noun, verb
UK/bæt/US/bæt/
As a noun, it can refer to a solid club, usually wooden or metal, used in sports (e.g., baseball or cricket) for hitting the ball, or a small, nocturnal flying mammal that navigates using echolocation. As a verb, it means to hit a ball with a bat or to flutter/wink (e.g., 'bat your eyelashes').
Example Sentences
He gripped the baseball bat tightly before stepping up to home plate.
A tiny bat flew across the moonlit sky, its wings moving almost silently in the darkness.
She batted the ball effortlessly over the fence, delighting the cheering crowd behind her.
Bats use echolocation to navigate and find insects at night, which is why they are often found in caves or other dark places.
The old wooden bat was chipped and worn from years of use in neighborhood games.
He barely had time to bat an eyelid before the surprise announcement turned his entire day upside down.
During the cricket match, the star player chose to bat first, hoping to set a high score for the opposing team to chase.
Despite their reputation, most bat species are harmless to humans and play a crucial ecological role in controlling insect populations.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Antonyms
How to Use
A winged mammal or a club-like tool for hitting balls.“Bat” functions in different ways, serving as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it can describe the small, typically nocturnal flying mammal that uses echolocation to navigate. These bats are crucial pollinators in many ecosystems, feeding on insects or nectar and providing benefits such as pest control. They generally roost in caves, trees, or crevices, emerging at dusk to forage. The second noun sense of “bat” refers to a long, usually wooden or metal stick used to hit balls in sports like baseball or cricket. A baseball bat is often made of solid wood or aluminum, with a shaped handle for grip, and a cylindrical barrel for striking the ball. The cricket bat, meanwhile, has a flat surface for precise shots.As a verb, “to bat” usually pertains to the action of hitting a pitched ball in baseball or taking one’s turn as a batter in cricket. For instance, “He will bat third in tonight’s game” indicates a player’s spot in the batting lineup. The verb can also appear in idiomatic expressions, such as “bat an eye,” meaning to react or show surprise (generally used in the negative: “He didn’t bat an eye”). Consequently, context determines the meaning: If you mention “the bat in the attic,” you’re likely talking about the flying mammal. If you say “the bat broke when I hit the ball,” it’s almost certainly a sports tool. Finally, if you talk about “batting .300,” you’re referring to a baseball hitter’s average.When using “bat” in conversation or writing, be mindful of surrounding words or topics to clarify whether you mean the creature or the implement. If you wish to discuss a bat’s ecology, mention habitats and nocturnal behavior. If focusing on the sports tool, mention baseball, cricket, or batting stances. Grammatically, “to bat” as a verb usually indicates taking an action in a batting position or responding without surprise (or with surprise, if negated) in the idiomatic sense. With diverse meanings ranging from nature and sports to idioms, “bat” is concise yet context-rich, making it a versatile term in English.
Alternatives
Depending on the specific context, you can use various synonyms or related words in place of “bat.” If you’re referring to the winged creature, terms like “flying mammal,” “nocturnal flier,” or “chiropteran” (the taxonomic order for bats) might fit. These emphasize the animal’s biological or behavioral traits. For describing a baseball or cricket bat, you could say “club” or “stick,” though these words might lack precision; “club” can also mean a blunt weapon, and “stick” is quite generic. In a sports setting, “hitting implement” or “sports bat” can clarify context, but they’re more formal and less commonly used.When dealing with idiomatic senses, alternatives depend on the phrase. For instance, instead of “He batted an eye,” you could say “He showed no reaction” or “He didn’t flinch.” If you need a verb for hitting in baseball specifically, “to swing” can sometimes stand in—“He swung and missed”—though “bat” more directly conveys the idea of taking one’s turn at the plate. If you’d like to emphasize the role of a hitter in a team sport, you might say “the batter” or “the hitter” instead of using “bat.” If your focus is on a bat’s role in nature, words like “pollinator,” “insectivorous mammal,” or “cave-dwelling species” can describe the creature’s ecological niche. Selecting among these alternatives depends on whether you’re concentrating on the animal, the equipment, or the verb describing an action—and how precise or casual you want your language to be.
Writing
When you include “bat” in your writing, aim to guide readers toward the appropriate meaning through context. If you’re referring to the winged mammal, descriptive details such as “nocturnal,” “cave-dwelling,” or “echolocation” help clarify the focus. You might portray them as mysterious, beneficial pollinators or misunderstood creatures. In contrast, if you’re talking about a sports bat, you might describe its weight, length, or the way a player grips it at home plate. Mentioning baseball or cricket or referencing an athlete’s technique can quickly signal the object you mean.When choosing “bat” as a verb, note whether it involves an athletic act—“He stepped up to bat in the ninth inning”—or an idiomatic expression—“She didn’t bat an eye at the surprise.” Tying the word to its contextual clues can help avoid ambiguity. If you’re crafting a narrative, decide whether “bat” stands out as an important detail or a background element. For instance, in a suspense or horror piece, you might focus on the silent fluttering of bats in a dark attic. In a sports drama, you could emphasize the tension of batting in a championship game. In more factual or expository writing, define “bat” upon first use if you suspect readers might confuse its meanings. Use consistent descriptors—like “baseball bat,” “cricket bat,” or “the flying mammal”—to anchor readers’ understanding.Selecting synonyms or adding adjectives ensures clarity and enriches your prose. For example, “the wooden baseball bat” conjures a distinctly American sports atmosphere, while “the startled bat darted overhead” sets a nocturnal, possibly eerie mood. By carefully integrating context, descriptors, and any relevant background, you let your reader grasp exactly what kind of “bat” you’re talking about and why it matters in your narrative or argument.
Casual Conversation
In everyday conversation, “bat” might show up in several ways, but context usually makes it clear which sense you mean. For the animal, friends might say, “I saw a bat flying around our porch last night,” or “We have bats in our attic—we need to call someone about that!” This casual talk often involves surprise or curiosity about the creature’s presence. When chatting about sports, you might say, “Hey, can you hand me that bat?” at a backyard game or “He’s great with a bat—he hits a ton of home runs.” If someone uses the idiomatic expression, they might declare, “I wouldn’t bat an eye if my roommate did something that crazy,” meaning they’d feel unsurprised.When discussing personal interests, you could mention, “I love going to the batting cages to practice my swing,” or “I find bats fascinating; they’re like nature’s pest control.” In casual contexts, it’s common to ask, “How’s your batting average lately?” if you play in a local league. If you want to spark conversation about nocturnal wildlife, you could mention a late-night encounter with a bat. And if you’re about to do something unflinchingly, you might quip, “I didn’t bat an eyelash.” Because the word “bat” can shift meaning swiftly in everyday language, other quick hints—like referencing baseball, a cave, or flying at dusk—usually help everyone follow along without confusion. By matching the right clues to the right environment—sports field versus wildlife sightings—you keep the conversation lively and clear.
Etymology
The word “bat,” referring to the flying mammal, likely derives from Middle English “bakke” or “balke,” influenced by Old Norse “leðrblaka” (leather flapper). Over time, it simplified to “bat,” emphasizing the creature’s distinctive, leathery wings. Meanwhile, the implement “bat” comes from Old French “batte,” meaning a stick or club used for hitting. Both senses of “bat” had emerged in English by the time sports like cricket, and later baseball, formalized their rules.From a historical viewpoint, the mammalian bat has been culturally significant worldwide—sometimes revered as a symbol of luck and long life (in parts of Asia) or, conversely, associated with darkness and vampires (in Western lore). Its name may have shortened and standardized faster than many other words, partly because the creature’s silhouette was so recognizable. As for the sports equipment, early clubs or cudgels used for games were generalized as “bats.” Gradually, specialized designs for baseball, cricket, and other sports developed, bringing about standardized lengths, materials, and regulations. Although the two “bat” definitions share only a short spelling, both revolve around the theme of flight—one literally flaps in the sky, while the other sends balls flying. Today, the word remains iconic, bridging wildlife fascination and athletic excitement under a single syllable.
