battle

(noun) a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war. Synonyms: conflict, fight, engagement. Examples: "Grant won a decisive victory in the battle of chickamauga." "He lost his romantic ideas about war when he got into a real engagement."

(noun) an energetic attempt to achieve something. Synonyms: struggle. Examples: "Getting through the crowd was a real struggle." "He fought a battle for recognition."

(noun) an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals). Synonyms: conflict, struggle. Examples: "The harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph"--thomas paine." "Police tried to control the battle between the pro- and anti-abortion mobs."

(verb) battle or contend against in or as if in a battle. Synonyms: combat. Examples: "The kurds are combating iraqi troops in northern iraq." "We must combat the prejudices against other races." "They battled over the budget."