[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

battle \bat"tle\, n. oe. bataille, bataile, f. bataille battle,
   of., battle, battalion, fr. l. battalia, battualia, the
   fighting and fencing exercises of soldiers and gladiators,
   fr. batuere to strike, beat. cf. battalia, 1st battel,
   and see batter, v. t. 
   1. a general action, fight, or encounter, in which all the
      divisions of an army are or may be engaged; an engagement;
      a combat.
      1913 webster

   2. a struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life.
      1913 webster

            the whole intellectual battle that had at its center
            the best poem of the best poet of that day. --h.
                                                  morley.
      1913 webster

   3. a division of an army; a battalion. obs.
      1913 webster

            the king divided his army into three battles.
                                                  --bacon.
      1913 webster

            the cavalry, by way of distinction, was called the
            battle, and on it alone depended the fate of every
            action.                               --robertson.
      1913 webster

   4. the main body, as distinct from the van and rear;
      battalia. obs. --hayward.
      1913 webster

   note: battle is used adjectively or as the first part of a
         self-explaining compound; as, battle brand, a "brand"
         or sword used in battle; battle cry; battlefield;
         battle ground; battle array; battle song.
         1913 webster

   battle piece, a painting, or a musical composition,
      representing a battle.

   battle royal.
      a a fight between several gamecocks, where the one that
          stands longest is the victor. --grose.
      b a contest with fists or cudgels in which more than two
          are engaged; a m^el'ee. --thackeray.

   drawn battle, one in which neither party gains the victory.
      

   to give battle, to attack an enemy.

   to join battle, to meet the attack; to engage in battle.

   pitched battle, one in which the armies are previously
      drawn up in form, with a regular disposition of the
      forces.

   wager of battle. see under wager, n.
      1913 webster

   syn: conflict; encounter; contest; action.

   usage: battle, combat, fight, engagement. these words
          agree in denoting a close encounter between contending
          parties. fight is a word of less dignity than the
          others. except in poetry, it is more naturally applied
          to the encounter of a few individuals, and more
          commonly an accidental one; as, a street fight. a
          combat is a close encounter, whether between few or
          many, and is usually premeditated. a battle is
          commonly more general and prolonged. an engagement
          supposes large numbers on each side, engaged or
          intermingled in the conflict.
          1913 webster
see also:
battalia battel batter battle piece battle royal drawn battle 
to give battle to join battle pitched battle wager of battle wager 
battle combat fight engagement 

Battle >> B Words
Battle, definition of term: Battle
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Battle Royal >> B Words
Battle Royal, definition of term: Battle Royal
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Battle Fatigue >> B Words
Battle Fatigue, definition of term: Battle Fatigue
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Battle Cruiser >> B Words
Battle Cruiser, definition of term: Battle Cruiser
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Battle Of Shilo >> B Words
Battle Of Shilo, definition of term: Battle Of Shilo
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Battle Of Marat >> B Words
Battle Of Marat, definition of term: Battle Of Marat
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Battle Of Hasti >> B Words
Battle Of Hasti, definition of term: Battle Of Hasti
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Battle Of Littl >> B Words
Battle Of Littl, definition of term: Battle Of Littl
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Battle Of Bunke >> B Words
Battle Of Bunke, definition of term: Battle Of Bunke
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Battle Of The C >> B Words
Battle Of The C, definition of term: Battle Of The C
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