v. & n.
v.intr. 1 make forceful or violent efforts to get free of restraint or constriction. 2 (often foll. by for, or to + infin.) make violent or determined efforts under difficulties; strive hard (struggled for supremacy; struggled to get the words out). 3 (foll. by with, against) contend; fight strenuously (struggled with the disease; struggled against superior numbers). 4 (foll. by along, up, etc.) make one's way with difficulty (struggled to my feet). 5 (esp. as struggling adj.) have difficulty in gaining recognition or a living (a struggling artist).
n. 1 the act or a spell of struggling. 2 a hard or confused contest. 3 a determined effort under difficulties. the struggle for existence (or life) the competition between organisms esp. as an element in natural selection, or between persons seeking a livelihood. struggler n.
[ ME strugle frequent. of uncert. orig. (perh. imit.) ]