batter-v; 3 Senses

Sense Number 1: strike violently, usually causing damage

Commentary:
NOTE: for specific usage describing (domestic) abuse, use sense 2 Syntax Is: NP1[agent] BATTER NP2[patient]
NOTE: Can include reflexive body parts (ie, you can batter yourself) Includes metaphorical usage.

Examples:
The black-clad Spider-Man has battered his way to the man who gave the kill order.
The storm battered the tent.
I sat in bed, while wind and sleet battered against my window.
He went and he battered himself against the stone floor.
She triumphs, whether she has battered her head against a brick wall or met no resistance.
The scandals have battered his reputation as an independent reformer.

Mappings:
VerbNet: hit-18.1-1
FrameNet: Cause_harm
PropBank: batter.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 2, 3

Sense Number 2: abuse

Commentary:
NOTE: this is a subsense of sense 1, specific to abusive situations Syntax Is: NP1[agent[human]] BATTER NP2[patient[human]]

Examples:
He was heavily in debt when he battered his wife and four children to death.
Another borderline woman repeatedly battered her husband and had numerous affairs.
A man was arrested Saturday after he allegedly battered his girlfriend.

Mappings:
VerbNet: hit-18.1-1
FrameNet: Abusing
PropBank: batter.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 2

Sense Number 3: coat food in a doughy substance before frying

Examples:
You could batter the eggplant in a breadcrumbs and egg mixture.
I de-shelled, deveined, and battered the shrimp myself!
One at a time, batter the first four chiles.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM