■ noun fighting between armed forces.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ing or ~ting , ~ed or ~ted )
1》 take action to reduce or prevent (something undesirable).
2》 archaic engage in a fight with.
Origin
C16: from Fr. ~tre , from late L. ~tere , from com- 'together with' + battere , var. of L. batuere 'to fight'.