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battle

1 battle /ˈbætl̟/ noun
plural battles
1 battle
/ˈbætl̟/
noun
plural battles
Britannica Dictionary definition of BATTLE
: a military fight between groups of soldiers, ships, airplanes, etc.
[count]
[noncount]
[count] : a violent fight in which people use weapons
[count]
: a fight between people or groups in which each side tries to win a contest (such as a game or an election) or to gain control of something (such as a company)
often + for
often followed by to + verb
◊ A battle of wits is a contest in which each side tries to win by being smarter or cleverer than the other side.
◊ A battle of wills is a contest in which each side tries to win by refusing to stop trying.
: a fight between two different or opposite forces
[count] : a long struggle to succeed or survive during a difficult situation
◊ If you are involved in a losing battle you are trying to do something with little or no chance of success.

do battle

: to fight or struggle
usually + with

half the battle

: an important and necessary part of doing or achieving something
often used with words like only and just to stress that something is not enough by itself to achieve a desired goal

in the heat of (the) battle

: while fighting in a battle often used figuratively

join battle

see join
2 battle /ˈbætl̟/ verb
battles; battled; battling
2 battle
/ˈbætl̟/
verb
battles; battled; battling
Britannica Dictionary definition of BATTLE
[no object] : to fight with weapons
[no object]
: to try or struggle very hard to do something
: to struggle or fight for something
: to fight or argue with someone over something
[+ object]
: to fight, compete, or argue with (someone or something)
: to try to stop or defeat (something)

battle it out

: to argue or fight