Pronunciation: /bæts/
noun a mammal capable of sustained flight with membranous wings
A1 Bats are mammals that can fly.
A2 Some bats use echolocation to navigate and find food.
B1 Bats play a crucial role in controlling insect populations.
B2 The largest species of bats have a wingspan of over 5 feet.
C1 Researchers are studying the behavior of bats to better understand their social structures.
C2 Conservation efforts are being made to protect bat populations from habitat loss and disease.
verb to strike or hit with a bat or similar object
A1 She bats her eyelashes when she's flirting.
A2 The cat bats at the toy mouse with its paw.
B1 He bats the ball out of the park for a home run.
B2 The wind bats the curtains against the window in the storm.
C1 The politician bats away questions about the scandal during the press conference.
C2 The expert bats down the theory proposed by the rival scientist with solid evidence.
formal Bats are fascinating creatures that belong to the order Chiroptera.
informal I saw a bunch of bats flying around the old abandoned house last night.
slang That party was so crowded, it was like a cave full of bats in there.
figurative Her erratic behavior made her friends think she had bats in her belfry.
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