batch

Everyday

1. A batch is an amount of something made at one time: "a batch of cookies". tree →
2. A batch is a group of things or people dealt with together: "a batch of letters", "the next batch of pupils". tree →
3. (verb) To batch things means to put them into groups to deal with them together. tree →
4. (cooking) Batch cooking means making lots of food at once to eat later. tree →

In the lessons

In maths problems, batches are equal groups: "she bakes 4 batches of 12 cookies, so 48 cookies". In factories, goods are made and checked in batches. Phrases: a batch of, in batches, batch cooking, the first batch, the next batch.

Examples

• Mum baked a batch of chocolate cookies. tree →
• Each batch has 24 cupcakes; 3 batches make 72. tree →
• The first batch of pancakes burned. tree →
• The teacher marked the books in batches of ten. tree →
• A new batch of puppies was born at the farm. tree →
• The factory checks each batch for faults. tree →
• The next batch of pupils will go in after lunch. tree →

Note

Plural: batches (add -es). In maths, "batches of" usually means multiplication: number of batches × items per batch.