battle
bat·tle
I
 /ˈbætl̩/  noun  ,  pl   bat·tles
  1 a : a military fight between groups of soldiers, ships, airplanes, etc.
   [  count  ] That two-day conflict has become one of the most famous battles in history.
    The battle continued late into the night.
    the battle of Gettysburg
   [  noncount  ] The men never spoke of the difficulties of battle. [=war]
    Hundreds of dead soldiers lay on the field of battle. [=the battlefield]
    the brave warriors who died/fell in battle [=while fighting in a war]
    Thousands of soldiers were willing to go into battle to fight the enemy.
  1 b [  count  ] : a violent fight in which people use weapons
   A police officer was injured in a gun battle that took place last night.
  2 [  count  ]
  2 a : 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)
   The divorced couple is now in a fierce custody battle over their son. [=a legal fight about who their son will live with]
   The company was involved in a legal battle with/against one of its employees.
   He has been engaged in a running battle [=a fight or disagreement that continues for a long time] with the government over the amount of money he owes in taxes.
  — often + for
   They are engaged in a battle for the presidency. [=a fight to win an election and become the president]
   a battle for control of the land
  — often followed by to + verb
   a battle to control the land
  ◇ A battle of wits is a contest in which each side tries to win by being smarter or cleverer than the other side.
   In this movie, it's a battle of wits as the bank robbers try to outsmart the city's detectives.
  ◇ A battle of wills is a contest in which each side tries to win by refusing to stop trying.
   The workers' strike became a difficult battle of wills between the company and the labor union.
  2 b : a fight between two different or opposite forces
   the never-ending battle between/of good and evil
   The comedy is a classic treatment of the battle of the sexes. [=the struggle for power between women and men]
  3 [  count  ] : a long struggle to succeed or survive during a difficult situation
   Last year, he lost his 10-year battle with/against AIDS. [=he died of AIDS after being sick with the disease for 10 years]
   Starting her own business has proven to be an uphill battle. [=a very difficult struggle]
  ◇ If you are involved in a losing battle you are trying to do something with little or no chance of success.
   I tried to get him to change his mind, but it was a losing battle. [=he refused to change his mind]
   She tried to stay awake but it was a losing battle.
   a gardener fighting a losing battle against weeds
  do battle
   : to fight or struggle
    political opponents who have been doing battle [=battling] for years
    — usually + with
    political opponents who have been doing battle with each other for years
    soldiers doing battle with the enemy
   
  half the battle
   : an important and necessary part of doing or achieving something
    When you're opening a new restaurant, good advertising is half the battle.
    — often used with words like only and just to stress that something is not enough by itself to achieve a desired goal
    If you want a career in show business, having talent is only half the battle–you also need to be lucky.
   
  in the heat of (the) battle
   : while fighting in a battle
    The soldier became confused in the heat of battle.
    — often used figuratively
    He apologized to his wife for the angry things he had said to her in the heat of battle. [=while they were arguing]
   
  join battle — see join
————————
II
  verb  , battles, bat·tled, bat·tling
  1 [  no obj  ] : to fight with weapons
   The army battled for control of the bridge.
   The battling armies agreed to a truce.
  2 [  no obj  ]
  2 a : to try or struggle very hard to do something
   The team battled [=fought] bravely to win their last game.
   They battled [=struggled] to keep their son out of jail.
  : to struggle or fight for something
   The two families have battled for control of the land for many years.
  2 b : to fight or argue with someone over something
   The couple battled fiercely over how to spend their money.
  3 [  + obj  ]
  3 a : to fight, compete, or argue with (someone or something)
   The two teams are set to battle each other for the championship.
   Members of both parties continue to battle the governor over her policies.
  3 b : to try to stop or defeat (something)
   Hundreds of firefighters came to help battle the forest fire.
   People often need help battling their drug and alcohol problems.
   She's been battling cancer for 10 years.
   battling the forces of evil
  battle it out
   : to argue or fight
    People were battling it out [=fighting it out] over parking spaces.
    The two sides are now battling it out in the courtroom.