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Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera; with their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more manoeuvrable than birds, flying with their very long spread-out digits covered with a thin membrane or patagium. The smallest bat, and arguably the smallest extant mammal, is Kitti’s hog-nosed bat, which is 29–34 mm (1.14–1.34 in) in length, 15 cm (5.91 in) across the wings and 2–2.6 g (0.07–0.09 oz) in mass. The largest bats are the flying foxes and the giant golden-crowned flying fox, Acerodon jubatus, which can weigh 1.6 kg (4 lb) and have a wingspan of 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in).
The second largest order of mammals, bats comprise about 20% of all classified mammal species worldwide, with over 1,200 species. These were traditionally divided into two suborders: the largely fruit-eating megabats, and the echolocating microbats. But more recent evidence has supported dividing the order into Yinpterochiroptera and Yangochiroptera, with megabats as members of the former along with several species of microbats. Many bats are insectivores, and most of the rest are frugivores (fruit-eaters). A few species feed on animals other than insects; for example, the vampire bats feed on blood. Most bats are nocturnal, and many roost in caves or other refuges; it is uncertain whether bats have these behaviours to escape predators. Bats are present throughout the world, with the exception of extremely cold regions. They are important in their ecosystems for pollinating flowers and dispersing seeds; many tropical plants depend entirely on bats for these services.
Bats provide humans with some benefits, at the cost of some threats. Bat dung has been mined as guano from caves and used as fertiliser. Bats consume insect pests, reducing the need for pesticides. They are sometimes numerous enough to serve as tourist attractions, and are used as food across Asia and the Pacific Rim. They are natural reservoirs of many pathogens, such as rabies; and since they are highly mobile, social, and long-lived, they can readily spread disease. In many cultures, bats are popularly associated with darkness, malevolence, witchcraft, vampires, and death.
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Racket (noun)
A racquet: an implement with a handle connected to a round frame strung with wire, sinew, or plastic cords, and used to hit a ball, such as in tennis or a birdie in badminton.
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Racket (noun)
A snowshoe formed of cords stretched across a long and narrow frame of light wood.
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Racket (noun)
A broad wooden shoe or patten for a man or horse, to allow walking on marshy or soft ground.
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Racket (noun)
A loud noise.
“Power tools work quickly, but they sure make a racket.”
“With all the racket they’re making, I can’t hear myself think!”
“What’s all this racket?”
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Racket (noun)
A fraud or swindle; an illegal scheme for profit.
“They had quite a racket devised to relieve customers of their money.”
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Racket (noun)
A carouse; any reckless dissipation.
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Racket (noun)
Something taking place considered as exciting, trying, unusual, etc. or as an ordeal.
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Racket (verb)
To strike with, or as if with, a racket.
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Racket (verb)
To make a clattering noise.
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Racket (verb)
To be dissipated; to carouse.
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Bat (noun)
Any of the small, nocturnal, flying mammals of the order Chiroptera, which navigate by means of echolocation.
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Bat (noun)
An old woman.
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Bat (noun)
A club made of wood or aluminium used for striking the ball in sports such as baseball, softball and cricket.
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Bat (noun)
A turn at hitting the ball with a bat in a game.
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Bat (noun)
The piece of wood on which the spinner places the coins and then uses for throwing them.
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Bat (noun)
Shale or bituminous shale.
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Bat (noun)
A sheet of cotton used for filling quilts or comfortables; batting.
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Bat (noun)
A part of a brick with one whole end.
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Bat (noun)
A stroke; a sharp blow.
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Bat (noun)
A stroke of work.
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Bat (noun)
Rate of motion; speed.
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Bat (noun)
A spree; a jollification.
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Bat (noun)
Manner; rate; condition; state of health.
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Bat (noun)
packsaddle
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Bat (verb)
to hit with a bat.
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Bat (verb)
to take a turn at hitting a ball with a bat in sports like cricket, baseball and softball, as opposed to fielding.
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Bat (verb)
to strike or swipe as though with a bat
“The cat batted at the toy.”
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Bat (verb)
to flutter: bat one’s eyelashes.
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Bat (verb)
To bate or flutter, as a hawk.
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Bat (verb)
To wink.
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Racket (noun)
a bat with a round or oval frame strung with catgut, nylon, etc., used especially in tennis, badminton, and squash
“a squash racket”
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Racket (noun)
a snowshoe resembling a racket.
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Racket (noun)
a loud unpleasant noise; a din
“the kids were making a racket”
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Racket (noun)
the noise and liveliness of fashionable society.
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Racket (noun)
an illegal or dishonest scheme for obtaining money
“a protection racket”
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Racket (noun)
a person’s line of business or way of life
“I’m in the insurance racket”
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Racket (verb)
make or move with a loud unpleasant noise
“trains racketed by”
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Racket (verb)
enjoy oneself socially; go in pursuit of pleasure or entertainment
“a fabulous car for racketing around Paris”
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Bat (noun)
an implement with a handle and a solid surface, typically of wood, used for hitting the ball in games such as cricket, baseball, and table tennis
“a cricket bat”
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Bat (noun)
a turn at playing with a bat.
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Bat (noun)
a person batting, especially in cricket; a batsman
“the team’s opening bat”
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Bat (noun)
each of a pair of objects resembling table tennis bats, used by a person on the ground to guide a taxiing aircraft.
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Bat (noun)
a slab on which pottery is formed, dried, or fired.
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Bat (noun)
a mainly nocturnal mammal capable of sustained flight, with membranous wings that extend between the fingers and limbs.
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Bat (noun)
a woman regarded as unattractive or unpleasant
“some deranged old bat”
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Bat (verb)
(of a sports team or player) take the role of hitting rather than throwing the ball
“Australia reached 263 for 4 after choosing to bat”
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Bat (verb)
defend the interests of; support
“she turned out to have the law batting for her”
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Bat (verb)
hit at (someone or something) with the flat of one’s hand
“he batted the flies away”
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Bat (verb)
flutter (one’s eyelashes or eyelids), typically in a flirtatious manner
“she batted her long dark eyelashes at him”