baton

noun

1. A staff or truncheon, used for various purposes.
2. A ceremonial staff of a field marshal or a similar high-ranking military office.
3. The stick of a conductor in musical performances.

   “The conductor raised his baton and the orchestra fell silent.”

4. An object transferred by runners in a relay race.

   “In the relay race, the runner dropped the baton.”

5. A rod twirled in a marching band's performance, in a gymnastic sport, or in juggling.
6. (US)A short stout club used primarily by policemen.

   “The police officer carried a baton for self-defense.”

7. A bend with the ends cut off, resembling a baton, typically borne sinister, and often used as a mark of cadency, initially for both legitimate and illegitimate children, but later chiefly for illegitimate children.

   “Alternative forms: batune, baston”

8. A short vertical lightweight post, not set into the ground, used to separate wires in a fence.
9. A batonnet, a long slice of a vegetable, thicker than a julienne.
10. A short baguette.

verb

1. (figuratively, transitive)To strike with a baton.

   “She passed the baton to her successor after retiring.”

   “accept/refuse/receive the baton”