baton
verbEtymology From French bâton. Doublet of baston.
1
Figuratively To strike with a baton.
- She passed the baton to her successor after retiring.
- accept/refuse/receive the baton
baton
nounUK /ˈbætɒn/ · US /bəˈtɑn/
Etymology From French bâton. Doublet of baston.
10 senses
- 1A staff or truncheon, used for various purposes.
- 2A ceremonial staff of a field marshal or a similar…
- 3The stick of a conductor in musical performances.
- 4An object transferred by runners in a relay race.
- 5A rod twirled in a marching band's performance, in a…
- 6A short stout club used primarily by policemen.
- 7A bend with the ends cut off, resembling a baton…
- 8A short vertical lightweight post, not set into the…
- 9A batonnet, a long slice of a vegetable, thicker than a julienne.
- 10A short baguette.
1
A staff or truncheon, used for various purposes.
2
Government, Military, Politics, War A ceremonial staff of a field marshal or a similar high-ranking military office.
3
Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music The stick of a conductor in musical performances.
- The conductor raised his baton and the orchestra fell silent.
4
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports An object transferred by runners in a relay race.
- In the relay race, the runner dropped the baton.
5
Arts, Gymnastics, Hobbies, Juggling, Lifestyle, Performing arts, Sports A rod twirled in a marching band's performance, in a gymnastic sport, or in juggling.
6
Engineering, Government, Military, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Politics, Tools, War, Weaponry US A short stout club used primarily by policemen.
- The police officer carried a baton for self-defense.
7
Government, Heraldry, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Monarchy, Nobility, Politics A bend with the ends cut off, resembling a baton, typically borne sinister, and often used as a mark of cadency, initially for both legitimate and illegitimate children, but later chiefly for illegitimate children.
- Alternative forms: batune, baston
8
A short vertical lightweight post, not set into the ground, used to separate wires in a fence.
- Derived terms
- baton charge, batonic, batonist, batonless, batonlike, baton round, baton sinister, pass the baton, sugar cane baton