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    battery

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    battery
    bat‧ter‧y S2 /ˈbætəri/ noun (plural batteries)
     Date: 1500-1600
     Language: Old French
     Origin: baterie, from batre 'to hit';
     Sense 4
     Origin: from the idea of hitting with gunfire;
     Sense 1
     Origin: from the idea of a group of electricity-producing cells joined together

    1.  ELECTRICITY  [countable] an object that provides a supply of electricity for something such as a radio, car, or toy:
        You have to take the top off to change the batteries.
        When the red light comes on, you should recharge the battery.
        The car’s got a flat battery.
        a battery-operated hairdryer
    2. a battery of something a group of many things of the same type:
        a battery of medical tests
    3.  FARM  [countable] British English a row of small cages in which chickens are kept, so that the farm can produce large numbers of eggs:
        battery hens ⇨ free-range
    4.  GUNS  [countable] several large guns used together:
        an anti-aircraft battery
    5.  CRIME  [uncountable] law the crime of hitting someone:
        He was charged with assault and battery. ⇨ assault and battery
    6. recharge your batteries informal to rest or relax in order to get back your energy:
        A week in the mountains should recharge my batteries.
         
    COLLOCATIONS
    ■ adjectives
       ▪ flat British English, dead American English (=with no more electricity in it) I'd left the headlights on and the battery was completely flat.
       ▪ low (=with little electricity in it) He could see the battery was low on his laptop.
       ▪ a car/torch/phone etc battery Have you checked your mobile phone battery?
       ▪ a rechargeable battery (=one that you can put more electricity in and use again) The camera uses rechargeable batteries.
       ▪ a spare battery (=an extra one, in case you need it) Take a torch and spare batteries.
    ■ verbs
       ▪ change/replace the battery (=put a new battery in something) You may need to change the battery in the smoke alarm.
       ▪ charge/recharge a battery (=put more electricity in it) It takes eight hours to fully recharge the battery.
       ▪ use batteries (also run on batteries) The clock runs on two 9-volt batteries.
       ▪ put a battery in She had put new batteries in the radio.
       ▪ take a battery out I''ll take the batteries out while I'm not using it.
    ■ nouns
       ▪ a battery charger (=a piece of equipment for charging batteries) Don't forget to pack your battery charger.
       ▪ battery power You can plug your laptop in or use it on battery power.
       ▪ battery life (=how long a battery produces electricity) My old phone had a longer battery life.
    ■ phrases
       ▪ battery powered/operated A lot of children's toys are battery operated.