batch
B2Neutral; common in business, academic (especially computing/data science), and everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A quantity of items (objects, people, data) produced, processed, or handled together at one time.
Also used as a verb meaning to group items for processing together, and as an adjective describing systems that process groups of items rather than continuously.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In computing, it often implies a non-interactive, scheduled job. In baking, it refers to the amount made in one mixing. The concept hinges on the unit 'group' and its collective treatment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. 'Batch cooking' (UK) is more common than 'batch cooking' (US), where 'meal prep' is a frequent alternative. 'Batch' as a verb is slightly more prevalent in American IT contexts.
Connotations
Largely identical. Connotes efficiency, standardization, and sometimes impersonality.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[N] a batch of [N plural][V] to batch [N plural][ADJ] batch [N]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Bad apple spoils the whole barrel (related concept, not with 'batch')”
- “In one fell swoop”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to groups of orders, invoices, or products processed together for efficiency, e.g., 'We process payroll in weekly batches.'
Academic
In computing/data science: processing data in discrete chunks; in sciences: groups of experimental samples.
Everyday
Cooking/baking, e.g., 'I made a double batch of soup.' Also used for groups of trainees or students.
Technical
In computing: a script or job (batch file, batch job) executed without user interaction. In manufacturing: a specific production lot.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We batch the invoices every Friday.
- The system is designed to batch transactions overnight.
American English
- We'll batch the orders for shipment tomorrow.
- The software batches the data before analysis.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My mum baked a batch of cupcakes.
- The first batch of students graduated in June.
- We received a new batch of textbooks for the class.
- The factory produces goods in large batches.
- The software allows you to edit photos in batches, saving a lot of time.
- A faulty component meant the entire batch had to be recalled.
- The researcher analysed the data in discrete batches to control for temporal variables.
- The new protocol enables batch certification of pharmaceutical products, streamlining the regulatory process.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a chef using a MIXING BOWL to make a BATCH of cookies. The BOWL holds them all together AT ONCE.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CONTAINER (a 'batch' is a container of items processed within a discrete unit of time).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'партия' when referring to a political party; use 'party'. For data/IT, 'пакетная обработка' is correct. 'Партия товара' is acceptable for goods.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'batch' for a continuous process (e.g., 'The water flows in batch' ❌). Using it as a countable noun without 'of' (e.g., 'We produced three batches cookies' ❌ -> 'three batches of cookies' ✅).
Practice
Quiz
In computing, what does 'batch processing' typically imply?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, commonly for groups of trainees, students, or recruits who start together, e.g., 'the new batch of interns'.
They are often interchangeable for products. 'Lot' can imply a specific, traceable unit (e.g., with a 'lot number'), while 'batch' emphasizes the process of grouping. 'Batch' is the preferred term in computing and cooking.
Yes, 'batching' is the present participle/gerund form, e.g., 'Batching tasks improves efficiency.'
It means uploading multiple files or data entries simultaneously as a single group, rather than one at a time.