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# bat

noun (a bat, bats); verb (bat, bats, batted, batting)

«bat» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A bat is a small flying animal with wings of skin that comes out at night. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bat/#m1)
2. A bat is also a stick or club for hitting the ball in games like cricket, baseball and rounders. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bat/#m2)
3. To bat means to take a turn at hitting the ball. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bat/#m3)
4. «Not bat an eye» means to not show any surprise. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bat/#m4)

### In the lessons

In science, bats are mammals, not birds; most eat insects or fruit, and many find their way with echoes (echolocation). Bats are protected in many places; never touch a bat, because it can carry disease. In sports, you bat in cricket and baseball; the batter or batsman holds the bat. Phrases: cricket bat, baseball bat, at bat, right off the bat, blind as a bat.

### Examples

- A bat flew out of the cave at dusk. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bat/#x1)
- Bats hang upside down when they sleep. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bat/#x2)
- Bats find insects in the dark using echoes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bat/#x3)
- He hit the ball hard with the cricket bat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bat/#x4)
- It's your turn to bat! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bat/#x5)
- She batted first for her team. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bat/#x6)
- Never pick up a bat; tell an adult. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bat/#x7)
- Bats are the only mammals that can truly fly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bat/#x8)

### Note

Same spelling, two meanings: the animal and the stick. Double the t: batted, batting. Myth: bats are not blind; most see quite well. «Blind as a bat» is just a saying.

## In Jewish tradition

An unclean flying creature that Israel may not eat. The Torah lists it among the birds.

**Interpretation.** The bat is included among the forbidden birds and is not kosher. The tradition teaches that it is unclean even though it flies like a bird and is not a bird.

### Examples

- and the stork, and the heron after its kinds, and the hoopoe, and the bat. (Torah LEV.11.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bat/#x1)
- Biliteral combinatinnx upon irhich all other combinatinm are bated. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bat/#x2)

### Note

Same spelling, two meanings: the animal and the stick. Double the t: batted, batting. Myth: bats are not blind; most see quite well. «Blind as a bat» is just a saying.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «bat» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bat/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«bat» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bat.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «bat» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bat/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«bat» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/bat.html) on Mova free.