batch

 
Pronunciation: /batʃ/

noun

  • a quantity or consignment of goods produced at one time: a batch of bread the company undertakes thirty-six separate quality control checks on every batch [as modifier]: batch production
  • informal a number of things or people regarded as a group or set: a batch of loyalists and sceptics
  • Computing a group of records processed as a single unit, usually without input from a user: [as modifier]: this should be run as a batch program from the process directory

verb

[with object]
  • arrange (things) in sets or groups: I had nothing to do but batch the reports

Origin:

late 15th century (in the senses 'process of baking', 'quantity produced at one baking'): based on an Old English word related to bacan (see bake). Current senses date from the early 18th century