baton
baton — noun
1. a slim, light wooden stick that the person leading an orchestra, band, or choir
a slim, light wooden stick that the person leading an orchestra, band, or choir holds in one hand and waves through the air to set the speed and feeling of the music being played.
Maestro Abreu raised his baton, and the violins began the slow opening melody.
subject is a conductor; verb 'raise' typical with baton
The young conductor held her baton lightly between her thumb and first finger.
collocation: hold + baton
With a quick flick of his baton, Mr. Park signalled the choir to stop singing.
Her baton tapped lightly on the music stand to call the players back to attention.
Maestro Nakamura raised her baton, waited for silence, and gave the downbeat for the violins.
- stick
general word; 'baton' is the specific term for orchestral conducting
用法筆記
Subject is usually a conductor or musical leader; common verbs are 'raise', 'lower', 'wave', and 'tap with'. Distinguish from sense 2: this baton stays in one person's hand throughout the performance.
常見錯誤
2. a short tube or stick used in a running race for teams, where each member of the
a short tube or stick used in a running race for teams, where each member of the team carries it for one section of the course and then hands it to the next teammate.
Theo dropped the baton just before reaching her teammate, and Japan lost the lead.
verb 'drop' is the classic relay-race collocation
The American team practised passing the baton smoothly for hours every morning.
collocation: pass the baton
Olu reached back without looking and grabbed the baton from his teammate.
The shiny silver baton flew out of her hand and rolled across the track.
Each runner sprinted one hundred metres before handing the baton to the next girl.
用法筆記
Most often used with the verbs 'pass', 'hand', 'drop', and 'grab'. The phrase 'pass the baton' is also a common idiom (see idioms section) meaning to transfer responsibility to another person.
常見錯誤
3. a long, hollow metal rod, often with weighted ends, that a marching-band leader
a long, hollow metal rod, often with weighted ends, that a marching-band leader or majorette spins quickly between her fingers and tosses high into the air during a parade or show.
The majorette spun her baton above her head as the marching band turned the corner.
collocation: spin / twirl + baton
Priya tossed her baton ten feet in the air and caught it without missing a step.
phrase: toss + baton in the air
The drum major's baton flashed in the sunlight as the parade crossed Main Street.
Sofia practised twirling the baton behind her back until her wrists ached.
Tiny silver bulbs at each end of the baton made it easier to spot the spin.
用法筆記
Object of 'twirl', 'spin', 'toss', or 'flourish'. Usually appears with parade, marching-band, or majorette contexts; out of those settings, sense 2 (relay) or sense 1 (conductor) is more likely.
4. a heavy wooden or rubber stick that a police officer carries on a belt and uses
a heavy wooden or rubber stick that a police officer carries on a belt and uses to defend themselves or to hit and control people during a fight or protest.
The officer pulled his baton from his belt and shouted at the crowd to step back.
collocation: pull / draw + baton
Riot police charged forward with shields raised and batons in their hands.
common in protest / riot reporting
Sergeant Davis swung his baton against the locked metal door to break it open.
Witnesses said the protester was struck on the shoulder with a heavy black baton.
The new recruits trained with rubber batons before being given real ones.
- truncheon
British equivalent, slightly more formal
- nightstick
American, mainly for police
- club
general word for any heavy short stick used as a weapon
用法筆記
Often appears in news reports about protests, riots, or arrests. American English also uses 'nightstick' or 'club'; British English may use 'truncheon'. In modern policing, 'extendable baton' refers to a metal version that opens with a flick.
常見錯誤
5. a short, decorated rod that an officer or official holds during ceremonies as a
a short, decorated rod that an officer or official holds during ceremonies as a public sign of the rank or authority that has been given to them.
Field Marshal Chen received a gold baton from the queen at the palace ceremony.
ceremonial / military register
The general carried an ivory baton tipped with silver as a sign of his new rank.
On the wall hung the old governor's baton, dusty but still beautifully carved.
The mayor raised her ceremonial baton to begin the opening parade of the city festival.
用法筆記
Almost always paired with a modifier such as 'ceremonial', 'gold', 'ivory', or with a rank like 'field marshal's'. Distinct from sense 4 (which is a working weapon) — this baton is purely symbolic and is rarely, if ever, used to strike anyone.
baton — verb
1. (of police) to strike a person or object hard with a wooden or rubber stick that
(of police) to strike a person or object hard with a wooden or rubber stick that officers carry as part of their equipment.
Riot officers batoned several protesters who refused to leave the city square.
transitive: baton + [people]
The reporter said she had been batoned across the back while filming the rally.
passive: be batoned
Officers batoned the locked gate again and again until the bolt finally snapped.
Two students claimed that police had batoned them on the legs during the march.
文法句型
baton + somebody/something
用法筆記
Almost always has police or security forces as the subject. Frequently appears in the passive in news writing ('was batoned', 'were batoned'). Less common than the phrase 'hit with a baton', which sounds more natural in everyday speech.