combat

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to battle or contend against in or as if in a battle

   The Kurds are combating Iraqi troops in Northern Iraq

2. 2
   noun

   A battle, a fight (often one in which weapons are used).

   "My tastes," he said, still smiling, "incline me to the garishly sunlit side of this planet." And, to tease her and arouse her to combat: "I prefer a farandole to a nocturne; I'd rather have a painting than an etching; Mr. Whistler bores me with his monochromatic mud; I don't like dull colours, dull sounds, dull intellects;[…]."

3. 3
   verb

   To fight; to struggle against.

   It has proven very difficult to combat drug addiction.

4. 4
   verb

   To fight (with); to struggle for victory (against).

   To combat with a blind man I disdain.

5. 5
   noun

   an engagement fought between two military forces

6. 6
   noun

   the act of fighting

7. 7
   noun

   a struggle for victory

Etymology

16th century, borrowed from Middle French combat, deverbal from Old French combatre, from Vulgar Latin *combattere, from Latin com- (“with”) + battuere (“to beat, strike”).