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battle1 definition

bat·tle (bat′'l)

noun

  1. a fight, esp. a large-scale engagement, between armed forces on land, at sea, or in the air
  2. armed fighting; combat or war
  3. any fight or struggle; conflict
  4. Archaic a battalion

Etymology: ME & OFr bataille < VL battalia < L battualia, exercises of gladiators and soldiers in fighting and fencing < battuere: see batter

transitive verb battled -·tled, battling -·tling

to oppose as in a battle; fight

intransitive verb

  1. to take part in a battle; fight
  2. to struggle; contend

Related Forms:

battle Idioms

give battle

or do battle
to engage in battle; fight
battle2 definition

bat·tle (bat′'l)

transitive verb battled -·tled, battling -·tling

Archaic to build battlements on

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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