bats

Everyday

1. Bats is the plural of bat: more than one flying animal, or more than one stick for hitting a ball. tree →
2. As a verb, «she bats» means she takes a turn hitting the ball. tree →
3. In informal British talk, «bats» means a bit crazy. tree →

In the lessons

In science, bats live in groups called colonies, in caves, trees and roofs, and sleep in the day. Many bats eat thousands of insects a night, which helps farmers. In sports, a team keeps several bats in the kit bag. Phrases: a colony of bats, fruit bats, cricket bats, go bats, bats in the belfry.

Examples

• Hundreds of bats flew out of the cave. tree →
• Fruit bats eat mangoes and figs. tree →
• Bats sleep upside down in the day. tree →
• Put the cricket bats back in the shed. tree →
• She bats left-handed. tree →
• Bats help by eating mosquitoes. tree →
• Some bats live in the roofs of old barns. tree →
• My little brother goes bats when he's tired. tree →
• Shining glow-worms covered the ceiling, and sky-blue bats flapped their transparent wings. tree →

Note

Bats is the plural or the he/she/it verb form of bat. Bats are mammals: the babies drink their mother's milk. Many bats are protected by law, so you must not disturb their roosts.

In Jewish tradition

Bats are flying animals of the night. People who worshipped idols are pictured as throwing them away to the moles and bats, the creatures of dark and empty places.

Interpretation. The prophet says that on the day of the Lord people will see their idols as worthless. Tradition reads it as a sign that idol worship will end.

Examples

• In that day a man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats; (Prophets ISA.2.20, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Bats is the plural or the he/she/it verb form of bat. Bats are mammals: the babies drink their mother's milk. Many bats are protected by law, so you must not disturb their roosts.