n.

1. a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war;
   conflict, fight, engagement
   
   • Grant won a decisive victory in the battle of Chickamauga
   • he lost his romantic ideas about war when he got into a real engagement
2. an energetic attempt to achieve something;
   struggle
   
   • getting through the crowd was a real struggle
   • he fought a battle for recognition
3. an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals);
   conflict, struggle
   
   • the harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph"--Thomas Paine; "police tried to control the battle between the pro- and anti-abortion mobs

v.

1. battle or contend against in or as if in a battle;
   combat
   
   • The Kurds are combating Iraqi troops in Northern Iraq
   • We must combat the prejudices against other races
   • they battled over the budget