/ wɔː(r); NAmE / noun
1.
[ U , C ] a situation in which two or more countries or groups of people fight against each other over a period of time :
the Second World War
the threat of (a) nuclear war
to win / lose a / the war
the war between England and Scotland
England's war with / against Scotland
It was the year Britain declared war on Germany.
Social and political problems led to the outbreak (= the beginning) of war .
Where were you living when war broke out ?
The government does not want to go to war (= start a war) unless all other alternatives have failed.
How long have they been at war ?
a war hero
( formal )
In the Middle Ages England waged war on France.
More troops are being despatched to the war zone .
( formal )
the theatre of war (= the area in which fighting takes place)
—see also warring , civil war , cold war , council of war , phoney war , post-war , prisoner of war , world war
2.
[ C , U ] a situation in which there is aggressive competition between groups, companies, countries, etc. :
the class war
a trade war
—see also price war
3.
[ U , sing. ] war (against / on sb/sth) a fight or an effort over a long period of time to get rid of or stop sth unpleasant :
The government has declared war on drug dealers.
We seem to be winning the war against crime.
➡ note at campaign
•
IDIOMS
- have been in the wars
- a war of nerves
- a war of words
—more at fair adjective
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Old English werre , from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French guerre , from a Germanic base shared by worse .