Meaning & use

baton

noun·Everyday

A thin stick or rod passed between runners in a relay race, or used to conduct an orchestra.

See it in a sentence

The runner nearly dropped the baton while handing it off during the final lap.

The conductor raised his baton, and the orchestra fell silent in anticipation.

A note on using this word

Baton also refers to a police officer's short club and, figuratively, to passing on leadership, as in passing the baton.

Words with a similar meaning

rodwand

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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