battle

Noun

• an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)
  • the harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph--Thomas Paine
    
  • police tried to control the battle between the pro- and anti-abortion mobs
    

• an energetic attempt to achieve something
  • getting through the crowd was a real struggle
    
  • he fought a battle for recognition
    

• a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
  • Grant won a decisive victory in the battle of Chickamauga
    
  • he lost his romantic ideas about war when he got into a real engagement
    

Verb

• battle or contend against in or as if in a battle
  • The Kurds are combating Iraqi troops in Northern Iraq
    
  • We must combat the prejudices against other races
    
  • they battled over the budget
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  conflict , struggle , fight , engagement , combat