Assault vs. Battery — What's the Difference?

An assault is the act of inflicting physical harm or unwanted physical contact upon a person or, in some specific legal definitions, a threat or attempt to commit such an action. It is both a crime and a tort and, therefore, may result in criminal prosecution, civil liability, or both.

(Electricity) A device containing an electric cell or a series of electric cells storing chemical energy that can be converted into electrical energy, usually in the form of direct current.

Make a physical attack on

A device that stores mechanical or other energy for later use.

A physical attack

The act of beating or pounding.

A concerted attempt to do something demanding

(Law) The unlawful and unwanted touching or striking of one person by another, with the intention of bringing about a harmful or offensive contact.

A violent physical attack, as with blows.

An emplacement for one or more pieces of artillery.

A strong or cutting verbal attack.

A set of guns or other heavy artillery, as on a warship.

A military attack, such as one launched against a fortified area or place.

An army artillery unit, corresponding to a company in the infantry.

The concluding stage of an attack in which close combat occurs with the enemy.

An array of similar things intended for use together

An unlawful threat or attempt to do bodily injury to another.

An impressive body or group

The act or an instance of unlawfully threatening or attempting to injure another.

(Baseball) A pitcher and catcher considered as a unit.

Sexual assault.

(Music) The percussion section of an orchestra.

The crime of rape.

A device used to power electric devices, consisting of a set of electrically connected electrochemical or, archaically, electrostatic cells. A single such cell when used by itself.

A rigorous or energetic effort to accomplish something difficult

(legal) The infliction of unlawful physical violence on a person, legally distinguished from assault, which includes the threat of impending violence.

To make a violent assault upon; attack.

(countable) A coordinated group of artillery weapons.

To rape.

An elevated platform on which cannon could be placed.

To attack verbally; criticize or denounce.

An array of similar things.

To harass or beset

A set of small cages where hens are kept for the purpose of farming their eggs.

To make an assault.

(baseball) The catcher and the pitcher together

A violent onset or attack with physical means, for example blows, weapons, etc.

(chess) Two or more major pieces on the same rank, file, or diagonal

A violent verbal attack, for example with insults, criticism, and the like

(music) A marching percussion ensemble; a drumline.

An attempt to commit battery: a violent attempt, or willful effort with force or violence, to do hurt to another, but without necessarily touching the person, such as by raising a fist in a threatening manner, or by striking at the person and missing.

The state of a firearm when it is possible to be fired.

The crime whose action is such an attempt.

(archaic) Apparatus for preparing or serving meals.

An act that causes someone to apprehend imminent bodily harm (such as brandishing a weapon).

The act of battering or beating.

The tort whose action is such an act.

The unlawful beating of another. It includes every willful, angry and violent, or negligent touching of another's person or clothes, or anything attached to his person or held by him.

(fencing) A non-competitive combat between two fencers.

Any place where cannon or mortars are mounted, for attack or defense.

(transitive) To attack, physically or figuratively; to assail.

A number of coated jars (Leyden jars) so connected that they may be charged and discharged simultaneously.

(transitive) To threaten or harass. en

A number of similar machines or devices in position; an apparatus consisting of a set of similar parts; as, a battery of boilers, of retorts, condensers, etc.

A violent onset or attack with physical means, as blows, weapons, etc.; an onslaught; the rush or charge of an attacking force; onset; as, to make assault upon a man, a house, or a town.

A series of stamps operated by one motive power, for crushing ores containing the precious metals.

A violent onset or attack with moral weapons, as words, arguments, appeals, and the like; as, to make an assault on the prerogatives of a prince, or on the constitution of a government.

The box in which the stamps for crushing ore play up and down.

An apparently violent attempt, or willful offer with force or violence, to do hurt to another; an attempt or offer to beat another, accompanied by a degree of violence, but without touching his person, as by lifting the fist, or a cane, in a threatening manner, or by striking at him, and missing him. If the blow aimed takes effect, it is a battery.

The pitcher and catcher together.

To make an assault upon, as by a sudden rush of armed men; to attack with unlawful or insulting physical violence or menaces.

Group of guns or missile launchers operated together at one place

To attack with moral means, or with a view of producing moral effects; to attack by words, arguments, or unfriendly measures; to assail; as, to assault a reputation or an administration.

A device that produces electricity; may have several primary or secondary cells arranged in parallel or series

Close fighting during the culmination of a military attack

A collection of related things intended for use together;

A threatened or attempted physical attack by someone who appears to be able to cause bodily harm if not stopped

A unit composed of the pitcher and catcher

Thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1946

A series of stamps operated in one mortar for crushing ores

The crime of forcing a woman to submit to sexual intercourse against her will

The heavy fire of artillery to saturate an area rather than hit a specific target;

Attack someone physically or emotionally;

An assault in which the assailant makes physical contact

Force (someone) to have sex against their will;

Attack in speech or writing;