batting

Everyday

1. Batting is hitting a ball with a bat, especially in baseball, cricket and softball; it is the turn when your team tries to score. tree →
2. Batting is also the -ing form of «bat»: hitting something with your hand or a bat. tree →
3. To bat your eyelashes is to blink them quickly. tree →
4. Batting is also a layer of soft cotton or wool used inside quilts. tree →

In the lessons

In PE and sport, «batting» is the attacking turn in cricket (UK, Australia, NZ, Ireland) and baseball/softball (US, Canada); a batting average is a maths statistic. Phrases: «batting order», «batting average», «batting helmet», «go in to bat», «without batting an eyelid / eye» (without showing any surprise).

Examples

• Our team is batting first. tree →
• He wore a batting helmet to protect his head. tree →
• Her batting average is 0.300. tree →
• The kitten was batting at a piece of string. tree →
• She went in to bat at number three. tree →
• He told the lie without batting an eyelid. tree →
• The quilt is filled with soft batting. tree →
• We practised batting in the nets after school. tree →

Note

From «bat» — double t: batted, batting. In cricket the player is a batter or batsman; in baseball, a batter. A batting average is division: hits ÷ times at bat (baseball) or runs ÷ times out (cricket). «Bat» is also a flying animal, a different word.