Beaters are individuals or devices used to mix or whip ingredients, commonly found in cooking and baking. They can be manual, like a whisk, or electric, such as a hand mixer or stand mixer. Beaters help incorporate air into mixtures, making them lighter and fluffier, which is essential for recipes like cakes and meringues. In the context of sports, particularly in games like Quidditch, beaters are players responsible for protecting their teammates from the opposing team's Bludgers. They use bats to hit the Bludgers away, allowing their team to focus on scoring points while minimizing distractions from the opposing players.