n. 1 fight, conflict, combat, action, encounter, clash, engagement, struggle, Donnybrook, fray, Law affray; brawl, fracas, mêlée or melee; contest; duel, hand-to-hand encounter You won the battle, but you lost the war And now, the battle between the world champion and the challenger! 2 argument, dispute, altercation, quarrel, war; contest, competition; struggle, fight, crusade, campaign The battle spilt out of the restaurant and into the street We are not yet winning the battle against AIDS.
v. 3 Usually, battle against. fight, contend or struggle or fight with or strive against, combat We must battle against ignorance at every opportunity