1. A large-scale fight between armed forces involving combat between armies, warships, or aircraft: This military conflict was one of the famous battles of the war.
2. A drawn-out conflict between adversaries, or against powerful forces: There is still a prolonged battle going on against malaria.
3. An intense competition: There have been political battles of wits among those who are running for President of the United States.
4. Etymology: from Old French bataille, from Late Latin battualia, "an exercise of soldiers and gladiators in fighting and fencing"; from Latin battuere, "to beat".

1. To fight with weapons: The two armies were battling for control of the bridge.
2. To struggle or to try very hard to accomplish something: Martha's basketball team battled to the very end to win the game.
3. To fight or to argue with another person over something: Joyce and Jack battled over how the money was to be spent.
4. To fight, compete, or to argue with someone or others to achieve an objective: The two university teams are scheduled to battle each other for the championship.
5. To try to defeat or to stop something: Many firefighters arrived to help battle the brush fires.