n.
Pronunciation: ' f ī t
Function: verb
Inflected Form: fought \ ' fo ̇ t \ ; fight · ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English feohtan; akin to Old High German fehtan to fight and perhaps to Latin pectere to comb ― more at PECTINATE
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1 a : to contend in battle or physical combat especially : to strive to overcome a person by blows or weapons b : to engage in boxing
2 : to put forth a determined effort
transitive verb
1 a (1) : to contend against in or as if in battle or physical combat (2) : to box against in the ring b (1) : to attempt to prevent the success or effectiveness of <the company fought the takeover attempt> (2) : to oppose the passage or development of < fight a bill in Congress>
2 a : WAGE , CARRY ON < fight a battle> b : to take part in (as a boxing match)
3 : to struggle to endure or surmount < fight a cold>
4 a : to gain by struggle < fight s his way through> b : to resolve by struggle < fought out their differences in court>
5 a : to manage (a ship) in a battle or storm b : to cause to struggle or contend c : to manage in an unnecessarily rough or awkward manner
– fight shy of : to avoid facing or meeting