n.
Pronunciation: ' käm- ˌ bat
Function: noun
Etymology: Anglo-French, from combatre to attack, fight, from Vulgar Latin *combattere, from Latin com - + battuere to beat
Date: 1546
1 : a fight or contest between individuals or groups
2 : CONFLICT , CONTROVERSY
3 : active fighting in a war : ACTION <casualties suffered in combat >