Baton: meaning, definitions and examples

🏃‍♂️

Add to dictionary

baton

[bəˈtɒn ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

law enforcement

A stick or truncheon used for various purposes, such as for law enforcement officers to control crowds or for a conductor to direct an orchestra.

Synonyms

club, stick, truncheon.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
baton	Typically used in the context of police or security forces, a baton refers to a heavy, cylindrical stick used for defense or control. It can also refer to a staff used in conducting an orchestra or as a symbol of authority in ceremonies. The police officer held a baton at his side. The conductor waved his baton to start the orchestra.

Word

Description / Examples

baton

Typically used in the context of police or security forces, a baton refers to a heavy, cylindrical stick used for defense or control. It can also refer to a staff used in conducting an orchestra or as a symbol of authority in ceremonies.

The police officer held a baton at his side.
The conductor waved his baton to start the orchestra.

Examples of usage

The police officer used a baton to control the unruly crowd.
The conductor waved the baton to cue the musicians.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

baking

A long, thin stick of butter or dough used for making pastries or bread.

Synonyms

rod, roll, stick.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
baton	This can also refer to a relay race where team members pass a baton to each other. She passed the baton to her teammate during the relay race.
stick	A general term for a slender, often wooden object. Used in various contexts like walking, playing, crafting, and more. She used a stick to draw shapes in the sand. He carved a design into the stick.
rod	This usually denotes a long, thin object often associated with fishing, measurements, or certain tools or implements. He caught a large fish with his fishing rod. The surveyor used a rod to measure the land.
roll	Typically refers to cylindrical shapes, often associated with food (like bread) or documents. She baked a batch of dinner rolls. He unfurled the roll of parchment to read the old document.

Examples of usage

She rolled out the dough and shaped it into a baton for the pastry.
The recipe called for two batons of butter.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

sports

A cylindrical object used in relay races, passed from one runner to the next.

Synonyms

handoff object, relay stick.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
baton	Used in music to describe the stick a conductor uses to lead an orchestra, band, or choir. The conductor raised his baton and the orchestra began to play.
relay stick	Primarily used in the context of track and field sports, particularly in relay races where team members pass a stick between runners. The runner smoothly passed the relay stick to her teammate, ensuring a successful exchange.
handoff object	Describes an item passed from one person to another, often used in general or abstract contexts. During the meeting, the project manager highlighted the importance of a seamless handoff object between teams.

Word

Description / Examples

baton

Used in music to describe the stick a conductor uses to lead an orchestra, band, or choir.

The conductor raised his baton and the orchestra began to play.

relay stick

Primarily used in the context of track and field sports, particularly in relay races where team members pass a stick between runners.

The runner smoothly passed the relay stick to her teammate, ensuring a successful exchange.

handoff object

Describes an item passed from one person to another, often used in general or abstract contexts.

During the meeting, the project manager highlighted the importance of a seamless handoff object between teams.

Examples of usage

The athlete sprinted to pass the baton to the next runner.
The relay team practiced handing off the baton smoothly.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'baton' comes from the French word for 'stick' or 'staff', explaining its long-often shape.
Historically, it described a stick or club used by military leaders to signal commands.

Sports

In relay races, runners hand off the baton to one another to keep the speed going, with a standard length of 28 centimeters.
The baton is an essential part of both track and field events, emphasizing teamwork.

Music

Conductors use a baton to guide musicians in orchestras, ensuring everyone plays together in time.
A baton used in music can be made from wood or fiberglass and helps to emphasize tempo and dynamics.

Symbolism

The baton often symbolizes leadership and authority, as it's held by those who guide others.
In many cultures, passing a baton can represent the transfer of responsibilities or knowledge.

Pop Culture

Baton twirling is both a competitive sport and a form of performance art, often featured in parades.
In films, the baton can appear as a prop in scenes involving police officers or military, adding to the tension of authority.

Translations

Translations of the word "baton" in other languages:

🇵🇹 bastão

🇮🇳 छड़ी

🇩🇪 Stab

🇮🇩 tongkat

🇺🇦 батон

🇵🇱 baton

🇯🇵 バトン

🇫🇷 bâton

🇪🇸 bastón

🇹🇷 sopa

🇰🇷 막대기

🇸🇦 عصا

🇨🇿 hůl

🇸🇰 palica

🇨🇳 棍子

🇸🇮 palica

🇮🇸 stafur

🇰🇿 таяқ

🇬🇪 ჯოხი

🇦🇿 çubuq

🇲🇽 bastón

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #21,221, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

...
21218 delve
21219 gulp
21220 domestics
21221 baton
21222 immensity
21223 dripped
21224 metered
...