battery
part of speech
noun (battery, batteries)
meaning for a pupil
1) A small object that stores electricity and gives it to torches, toys, phones and remote controls. tree →
2) A row or group of similar things: "a battery of tests". tree →
3) (In law) the crime of hitting someone. tree →
4) A set of large guns. tree →
sense in the lessons
In science, a battery (cell) pushes electricity around a circuit; it stores chemical energy and changes it to electrical energy; it has + and − ends. In safety: button batteries are very dangerous if swallowed — get help at once; don't put batteries in fire; recycle used batteries. Phrases: battery-powered, flat battery (empty), rechargeable battery, charge the battery.
examples
- The torch needs a new battery. tree →
- My phone battery is flat. tree →
- A battery has a plus end and a minus end. tree →
- Button batteries are dangerous if swallowed. tree →
- Recycle old batteries. tree →
- The toy runs on two batteries. tree →
- Connect the battery to the bulb to make a circuit. tree →
- Charge the battery overnight. tree →
note
Plural "batteries" (y → ies). Scientists call one unit a "cell"; a battery is really two or more cells, but in everyday English one is called a battery. A swallowed button battery is an emergency.
In the corpora
- Car batteries contain a strong acid that burns skin and eyes, so they must never be opened.
- These puzzles are for thinking, not trying: fire, cleaning products and batteries are a grown-up's job.
- A single short chirp every minute or so from a smoke alarm usually means its battery is low.
- Phone maps are helpful, but batteries run out, so it is wise to know your route too.
- Small round button batteries are very dangerous if swallowed and need a doctor straight away.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «battery» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.