BATTLE


Meaning of BATTLE in English

I. bat ‧ tle 1 W2 /ˈbætl/ BrE AmE noun [countable]

[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: bataille , from Late Latin battalia 'fighting' , from Latin battuere 'to hit' ]

1 . FIGHT a fight between opposing armies, groups of ships, groups of people etc, especially one that is part of a larger war:

the Battle of Trafalgar

in battle

Her son was killed in battle.

into battle

a knight riding into battle

battle between

battles between government forces and the rebels

a pitched battle (=a long and serious battle) between police and drug gangs

2 . COMPETITION/ARGUMENT a situation in which opposing groups or people compete or argue with each other when trying to achieve success or control:

a long-running legal battle

battle for

a battle for custody of their children

battle between

a fierce ratings battle between rival TV stations

battle with

an ongoing battle with my mother about eating properly

3 . CHANGE BAD SITUATION an attempt to solve a difficult problem or change an unpleasant situation

battle against

a battle against the racism of the school system

battle with

a long battle with lung cancer

battle for

Scientology has fought long battles for acceptance as a religion.

4 . be half the battle to be a difficult or important part of what you have to do:

Just getting an interview is half the battle.

5 . a battle of wits a situation in which opposing sides try to win by using their intelligence:

A good mystery story is a battle of wits between author and reader.

6 . battle of wills a situation in which opposing sides refuse to change what they want, in the hope that the other side will decide to change first:

a battle of wills between teacher and student

7 . do battle (with somebody) to argue with someone or fight against someone:

She walked into the room with her eyes blazing, ready to do battle.

8 . fight your own battles to argue with someone, or compete in a difficult situation, without having help from other people – used to show approval:

It’s all right, Mum. I can fight my own battles.

9 . the battle of the sexes the relationship between men and women when it is considered as a fight for power

10 . the battle of the bulge the act of trying to lose weight – used humorously

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COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 3)

■ verbs

▪ fight a battle ( also wage a battle formal )

The police are fighting a tough battle against crime.

|

Many areas around here are waging a constant battle against vandalism.

▪ win a battle

It’s essential to win the battle against inflation.

▪ lose a battle

a brave little girl who lost her battle against cancer

▪ face a battle

Paul faces a frantic battle to be fit for the match in November.

■ adjectives

▪ a long/lengthy battle

his long battle with alcoholism

▪ an uphill battle (=one that is very difficult)

For most people losing weight is an uphill battle.

▪ a tough/hard battle

He faces a tough battle to prove his innocence.

▪ a constant battle

As a student, life was a constant battle against debt.

▪ a losing battle (=one that is going to fail)

She was fighting a losing battle to stop herself from crying.

II. battle 2 BrE AmE verb

1 . [intransitive and transitive] to try very hard to achieve something that is difficult or dangerous:

Firefighters battled the flames.

battle against/with

She had battled against cancer.

battle for

a pressure group battling for better schools

battle to do something

Doctors battled to save his life.

2 . battle it out to keep fighting or opposing each other until one person or team wins:

Sixteen teams will battle it out.

3 . [intransitive] literary to take part in a fight or war

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.