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batter1 definition

bat·ter (bat′ər)

transitive verb

    1. to beat or strike with blow after blow; pound
    2. to subject (a smaller or weaker person) to frequent beatings
  2. to break to bits by pounding
  3. to injure by pounding, hard wear, or use

Etymology: ME bateren < OFr battre < VL battere < L battuere, to beat, via Gaul < IE base *bhāt-, to strike > L fatuus, foolish & Sans bátati, (he) strikes; also, in part, freq. of bat, v.

intransitive verb

to pound noisily and repeatedly
batter2 definition

bat·ter (bat′ər)

noun

  1. Baseball the player who is batting or whose turn it is to bat
  2. Cricket batsman
batter3 definition

bat·ter (bat′ər)

noun

a flowing mixture of flour, milk, eggs, etc. for making cakes or pancakes, coating food before frying, etc.

Etymology: ME & OFr bature, prob. < battre: see batter

transitive verb

to coat with batter
batter4 definition

bat·ter (bat′ər)

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to slope gradually upward and backward

Etymology: < ?

noun

a gradual upward and backward slope, as of the outer face of a wall

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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