batch

[ bach ]

noun

1. a quantity or number coming at one time or taken together:

   a batch of prisoners.

   Synonyms: troop, pack, gang, flock, band, set, number, lot, group, bunch

2. the quantity of material prepared or required for one operation:

   mixing a batch of concrete.

3. the quantity of bread, cookies, dough, or the like, made at one baking.
4. Computers.
   1. a group of jobs, data, or programs treated as a unit for computer processing.
   2. batch processing ( def ).
5. Glassmaking.
   1. a quantity of raw materials mixed in proper proportions and prepared for fusion into glass.
   2. the material so mixed.

verb (used with object)

1. to combine, mix, or process in a batch.

batch

¹

/ bætʃ /

noun

1. a group or set of usually similar objects or people, esp if sent off, handled, or arriving at the same time
2. the bread, cakes, etc, produced at one baking
3. the amount of a material needed for an operation
4. See pan loaf
   Also calledbatch loaf a tall loaf having a close texture and a thick crust on the top and bottom, baked as part of a batch: the sides of each loaf are greased so that they will pull apart after baking to have pale crumby sides; made esp in Scotland and Ireland Compare pan loaf

verb

1. to group (items) for efficient processing
2. to handle by batch processing

batch

²

/ bætʃ /

verb

1. intr (of a man) to do his own cooking and housekeeping
2. to live alone

Word History and Origins

Origin of batch¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English bache “amount of bread produced in one baking,” Old English gebæc; akin to German Gebäck “pastry, cakes”; bake

Word History and Origins

Origin of batch¹

C15 bache ; related to Old English bacan to bake ; compare Old English gebæc batch, German Gebäck

Example Sentences

Ordering other drug manufacturers to stand up manufacturing lines to whip up extra batches of Pfizer's or Moderna's vaccines is not an efficient or practical way for the federal government to quickly increase supplies, some experts say.

From Axios

If you’re not reaching for your favorite small-batch beer, you’ll enjoy this crisp gin and tonic.

From Washington Post

The appliance is big enough to fit a decent size frozen pizza, multiple hamburger buns, a feast of tater tots, or a whole batch of cookies.

From Popular-Science

Meetings and calls are arranged in “batches of time” so that the rest of the time people can get on with their work without disruption.

From Digiday

Repeat to fry more dumplings in additional batches, as desired, adding more water and oil and adjusting the heat as needed to prevent the dumplings from burning.

From Washington Post

And if people find themselves dissatisfied with how often they turn to fast food, Bacon says to try things like batch cooking.

From The Daily Beast

Make a batch of these rum balls, climb into a onesie, and let your favorite movie do the rest.

From The Daily Beast

But the recent batch of polls shows Americans to be, what else, deeply split on whether Obama was right to do this by fiat.

From The Daily Beast

He reminds Bob that “your people” destroyed Terminus, forcing its batch of psychos to survive “out here like everybody else.”

From The Daily Beast

Then Cutter Laboratories in Berkeley, California, made a bad batch of vaccine, and 40,000 children were sickened with polio.

From The Daily Beast

About one thousand pounds of tobacco would form an ordinary batch of snuff.

From Project Gutenberg

Nevertheless, a batch of convicts occasionally breaks jail, and those who are not shot down escape.

From Project Gutenberg

It would be the day of the October massacre, for instance; and he be on fire for the next batch of news.

From Project Gutenberg

She rose from her chair and began putting up the table-leaf and setting out the necessary dishes for a batch of cake.

From Project Gutenberg

There's a batch of 'em on the steps under here, a-sittin' in their sins, and shoutin' 'Down with Bill!'

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• amount
• array
• assortment
• bunch
• bundle
• cluster
• collection
• lot
• parcel
• quantity
• shipment
• volume