noun
plural battles
a military fight between groups of soldiers, ships, airplanes, etc. [count]
[count] :a violent fight in which people use weapons
[count] a fight between people or groups in which each side tries to win a contest (such as a game or an election) or to gain control of something (such as a company)
A battle of wits is a contest in which each side tries to win by being smarter or cleverer than the other side.
A battle of wills is a contest in which each side tries to win by refusing to stop trying.
a fight between two different or opposite forces
[count] :a long struggle to succeed or survive during a difficult situation
If you are involved in a losing battle you are trying to do something with little or no chance of success.
do battle
to fight or struggle
usually + with
half the battle
an important and necessary part of doing or achieving something
in the heat of (the) battle
while fighting in a battle
join battle
verb
battles; battled; battling
[no obj] :to fight with weapons
[no obj]
to try or struggle very hard to do something
to fight or argue with someone over something
[+ obj] to fight, compete, or argue with (someone or something)
to try to stop or defeat (something)
battle it out
to argue or fight