batch
batch
Pronunciation
batch: /bætʃ/
batch:
/b/ - voiced bilabial plosive
/æ/ - near-open front unrounded vowel
/tʃ/ - voiceless palato-alveolar affricate
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: batch
Plural Noun: batches
Verb (Base Form): batch
Verb (Third Person Singular Present): batches
Verb (Present Participle): batching
Verb (Past Simple): batched
Verb (Past Participle): batched
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A group or quantity of items produced or handled at one time.
Synonyms: lot, set, group, collection, quantity, assortment
Antonyms: individual, single, unit (in the sense of being separate from a group)
A quantity of material prepared for a single process or operation.
Synonyms: mix, mixture, concoction, preparation, blend
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; implies a single, complete unit of preparation)
(Informal, often humorous) A number of people considered together, often with shared characteristics or circumstances.
Synonyms: crowd, crew, gang, bunch, assembly
Antonyms: individual, loner, outsider
Verb
To group or process items together at one time.
Synonyms: group, sort, categorize, combine, assemble, process
Antonyms: separate, disaggregate, individualize
To produce or prepare a quantity of something in a single operation.
Synonyms: produce, make, create, prepare, mix
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; implies an act of production)
Examples of Use
Books:
"He poured another batch of concrete, carefully smoothing it into the mold, his mind replaying the day's events." (From "The Builder's Secret" by Alice Green, October 2023)
"The bakery's new oven allowed them to produce a larger batch of sourdough loaves in half the time." (From "Artisan Breads: A Modern Guide" by Samuel P. Carter, March 2024)
Newspapers:
"The local food bank received a large batch of fresh produce donations from area farms this week, helping to feed hundreds of families." (The Daily Herald)
"Investigators are analyzing a new batch of evidence in the ongoing fraud case, hoping for a breakthrough." (Financial Times)
Online Publications:
"Learn how to create a delicious batch of homemade granola bars for a healthy on-the-go snack." (Food52.com)
"The tech startup announced a new batch of software updates, promising improved user experience and security features." (TechCrunch.com)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Series (Dialogue): "Alright team, let's get this next batch of prototypes ready for testing by end of day." (From "Innovation Lab," Season 3, Episode 7, streamed on Netflix, December 2024)
Video Game (In-game text): "Quest Complete: Delivered the batch of rare herbs to the alchemist." (From "Eldoria Chronicles," released September 2023)
Podcast (Discussion): "In this episode, we'll dive into the latest batch of listener questions about cryptocurrency." (The Crypto Curious Podcast, February 2025)
Music (Song Lyrics): "Just a fresh batch of dreams, baked under the sun." (From the song "Sunrise Serenade" by The Daydreamers, August 2024)
General Public Discourse:
"My grandma just made a huge batch of her famous cookies – you have to try one!" (Casual conversation)
"We need to process this next batch of applications by Friday if we want to meet our deadline." (Workplace conversation)
"The university welcomed its largest batch of international students yet this academic year." (University orientation speech)
"I'm going to batch cook some meals this weekend to save time during the week." (Social media post)
10 Quotes Using Batch
"Every new batch of ideas brings the world a step closer to understanding."
"A fresh batch of challenges often precedes a breakthrough."
"The first batch of mistakes is always the most instructive."
"Success is often measured by the quality of the next batch of efforts."
"From a small batch of courage, great movements are born."
"This latest batch of data confirms our initial hypothesis."
"Life often presents a mixed batch of joy and sorrow."
"A wise leader nurtures each new batch of talent."
"The artist completed another batch of paintings, each telling a silent story."
"We learn most from the batch of experiences that push us beyond our comfort zone."
Etymology
The word "batch" has a history rooted in the act of baking. It comes from the Middle English word "bache" or "bacche," which probably originated from an Old English word like "*bæcce," meaning "something baked." This Old English word, in turn, is related to the verb "bacan," meaning "to bake."
So, the very first known use and meaning of "batch" was specifically about a quantity of bread or other baked goods made at one time – essentially, everything that came out of the oven in a single baking session. This use can be traced back to the Middle English period, with evidence from around 1440.
Over time, the meaning broadened. By the late 1500s, it started to mean "an aggregation of similar articles," no longer just baked goods. Then, in the early 1700s, it expanded even further to mean "any quantity produced at one operation," whether it was something baked, mixed, or processed. Today, we use "batch" in a much wider sense to refer to any group of things processed or handled together.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Batch
A fresh batch: Referring to a new quantity of something, often food or products.
The whole batch: Meaning every item in a particular group or quantity.
Batch processing: A method of running computer programs or operations in groups rather than individually.
To batch cook: To prepare large quantities of food at once, usually for later consumption.
In batches: Indicating that something is done or produced in groups rather than all at once.
A bad batch: A group of products or items that are faulty or of poor quality.
To make a batch of something: To produce a specific quantity of an item, like cookies or a mixture.
A mixed batch (original phrase): A group of things or people that are diverse or varied in nature.
To process in a batch (original phrase): To handle multiple items together in a single operation.
The latest batch of news (original phrase): The most recent collection of information or updates.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of batch from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
