Pronunciation: /ˈbætən/
noun a long, flat strip of squared wood or metal used to hold something in place or as a fastening against a wall
A1 The batten holding up the curtains fell down.
A2 She used a batten to secure the loose boards on the deck.
B1 The construction workers nailed the battens to the roof for added support.
B2 The sailor tightened the batten to keep the sail in place during the storm.
C1 The carpenter carefully measured and cut the batten to fit perfectly along the edge of the door frame.
C2 The engineer recommended reinforcing the structure with additional battens to withstand the high winds.
verb to strengthen or fasten (something) with battens
A1 She batten down the hatches before the storm hit.
A2 The carpenter batten the boards together to create a sturdy structure.
B1 The company decided to batten down costs in order to survive the economic downturn.
B2 The team leader batten down the project timeline to ensure it was completed on schedule.
C1 The government implemented measures to batten down security in response to the terrorist threat.
C2 The CEO batten down the company's finances to weather the recession.
formal The carpenter used a batten to secure the boards together.
informal Can you pass me that batten over there?
slang I'm going to batten down the hatches before the storm hits.
figurative She had to batten down her emotions to stay focused during the presentation.
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