battery
UK: ˈbætəri | US: ˈbætəri
n. a device that produces electricity through chemical reactions
n. a series of similar things or events grouped together
n. the illegal act of physically harming someone
The word "battery" originates from the French batterie, meaning "action of beating," derived from battre ("to beat"). Its earliest usage referred to artillery units "beating" (bombarding) enemy positions. By the 18th century, it was applied to electrochemical cells due to their function of "striking" energy through chemical reactions, paralleling the violent imagery of artillery. The legal sense ("physical assault") retains the original violent connotation.
The remote control needs two AA batteries to function.
The lab tested a battery of new vaccines.
He was charged with assault and battery after the fight.
Solar panels store energy in a backup battery.
A battery of cameras monitored the entrance.