baton

Everyday

1. A baton is a short stick passed from one runner to the next in a relay race. tree →
2. A baton is a thin stick a conductor waves to lead an orchestra or choir. tree →
3. A baton is a stick that some police officers carry. tree →
4. A baton is a stick twirled by a majorette or drum major in a parade. tree →

In the lessons

In PE and sports day, children run relay races passing a baton; dropping it can lose the race. In music lessons, the conductor uses a baton to show the beat. Phrases: «pass the baton» (also meaning to hand over a job to someone else), «relay baton».

Examples

• She passed the baton to the next runner. tree →
• Don't drop the baton in the relay! tree →
• The conductor raised her baton and the band began. tree →
• The police officer carried a baton. tree →
• The majorette twirled her baton in the parade. tree →
• Our team won the relay because the baton passes were quick. tree →
• The old captain passed the baton to a younger player. tree →
• A relay team has four runners and one baton. tree →
• She now only held the naked skewer, and lifted it up as a conductor lifts his baton at a concert. tree →

Note

Countable: a baton, batons. Pronounced «BAT-on» in British English and «buh-TON» in American English. Do not confuse with «batten» (a strip of wood) or «baton rouge» (a city name).