bat

bat1 [ bæt ] noun count **

1. ) a long wooden object used for hitting the ball in games such as baseball and CRICKET

a ) BRITISH a PADDLE in table tennis

2. ) a small animal that flies at night and looks like a mouse with large wings

at bat AMERICAN

if a team or player is at bat, it is their turn to hit the ball in baseball

like a bat out of hell INFORMAL

extremely fast

off your own bat BRITISH INFORMAL

doing something because you have decided to do it, not because someone else has suggested it

right off the bat AMERICAN INFORMAL

immediately or right from the start:

I found what I wanted right off the bat.

bat

bat 2 [ bæt ] verb

1. ) intransitive or transitive to hit the ball with a bat in a game such as baseball or CRICKET

a ) intransitive in baseball or cricket, the team that is batting is trying to score points by hitting the ball

2. ) transitive to hit something small that is flying through the air in order to stop it landing on you:

He was trying to bat the flies away with his newspaper.

bat your eyes/eyelashes

to open and close your eyes very quickly several times, intending to be attractive to someone

go to bat for someone INFORMAL

to give someone your support and help

not bat an eye INFORMAL

to not be shocked, worried, or upset by something

,bat a`round phrasal verb transitive

to discuss ideas or plans in an informal way