[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/baton/)

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# baton

noun (a baton, batons)

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

## Everyday

1. A baton is a short stick passed from one runner to the next in a relay race. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baton/#m1)
2. A baton is a thin stick a conductor waves to lead an orchestra or choir. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baton/#m2)
3. A baton is a stick that some police officers carry. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baton/#m3)
4. A baton is a stick twirled by a majorette or drum major in a parade. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baton/#m4)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baton/#x1)
- Don't drop the baton in the relay! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baton/#x2)
- The conductor raised her baton and the band began. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baton/#x3)
- The police officer carried a baton. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baton/#x4)
- The majorette twirled her baton in the parade. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baton/#x5)
- Our team won the relay because the baton passes were quick. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baton/#x6)
- The old captain passed the baton to a younger player. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baton/#x7)
- A relay team has four runners and one baton. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baton/#x8)
- She now only held the naked skewer, and lifted it up as a conductor lifts his baton at a concert. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baton/#x9)

### 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).

## On Mova

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