{ "term": "battle", "partOfSpeech": "noun", "ox3000": true, "cefr": "b1", "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "a fight between armies, ships or planes, especially during a war; a violent fight between groups of people", "sensetop": "in battlebattle with somebodybattle against somebodybattle between A and B", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo." }, { "text": "His father had been killed in battle.", "contextForm": "in battle" }, { "text": "to **go into battle**" }, { "text": "Hundreds of protesters **fought** running **battles** with the police.", "contextForm": "battle with somebody" }, { "text": "In 1817 Bolivar **won** a series of **battles** against Spanish forces.", "contextForm": "battle against somebody" }, { "text": "It ended in a **gun battle** between police and drug smugglers.", "contextForm": "battle between A and B" }, { "text": "He died in battle." }, { "text": "Many young men were sent into battle without proper training." }, { "text": "The film has all the usual car chases and gun battles." }, { "text": "The battle between police and demonstrators continued for several hours." }, { "text": "Charles V refused to give battle." }, { "text": "Iwo Jima was for many the climactic battle of World War II." }, { "text": "The leaders anxiously watched the battle unfold." }, { "text": "The squadron was getting ready for the coming battle." }, { "text": "The battle claimed the lives of three soldiers and 40 guerrillas." }, { "text": "Police fought a pitched battle against demonstrators." } ], "topics": ["History", "War and conflict"], "collocations": { "adjective": ["fierce", "pitched", "running"], "verb + battle": ["fight"], "battle + verb": ["erupt"], "preposition": ["battle against", "battle between", "battle with"] } }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "a competition, an argument or a struggle between people or groups of people trying to win power or control", "sensetop": "battle for somethingbattle with somebody (for something)battle against somebodybattle between A and B battle over something", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "She finally **won her** six-year **battle** for compensation.", "contextForm": "battle for something" }, { "text": "They are engaged in a **legal battle** with their competitors.", "contextForm": "battle with somebody (for something)" }, { "text": "He faces an **uphill battle** against a hostile press.", "contextForm": "battle against somebody" }, { "text": "a **battle of wits** *(= when each side uses their ability to think quickly to try to win)*" }, { "text": "a **battle of wills** *(= when each side is very determined to win)*" }, { "text": "the battle of the sexes" }, { "text": "The essay discusses the endless battle between man and nature.", "contextForm": "battle between A and B" }, { "text": "The government now **faces a** new **battle** over tax increases.", "contextForm": "battle over something" }, { "text": "A policy battle is raging in Washington." }, { "text": "A ten-month legal battle ensued." }, { "text": "She saw a way to end the prolonged legal battle." }, { "text": "The college president fought a running battle with the editors of the student newspaper." }, { "text": "The upcoming political battle could be for the allegiance of the young." }, { "text": "There's now a real battle at the top of the First Division." }, { "text": "A turf battle among competing drug cartels has claimed several lives." }, { "text": "There followed a fierce battle between developers and the local community." }, { "text": "There is set to be a heated battle between the oil industry and environmentalists." }, { "text": "He had been conducting a personal battle of wits with the sales manager since his first day at work." }, { "text": "Looking after a two-year-old needn't be a constant battle of wills." }, { "text": "As a parent, you have to pick your battles." } ], "topics": ["Opinion and argument"], "collocations": { "adjective": ["bitter", "fierce", "heated"], "verb + battle": ["do", "engage in", "fight"], "battle + verb": ["rage", "begin", "ensue"], "preposition": ["battle against", "battle between", "battle for"], "phrases": [ "a battle of ideas", "a battle of words", "a battle of wills" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "a determined effort that somebody makes to solve a difficult problem or succeed in a difficult situation", "sensetop": "battle against somethingbattle for somethingbattle with somethingbattle to do something", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "She finally **lost her **long **battle** against cancer.", "contextForm": "battle against something" }, { "text": "He has **fought** an uphill **battle** against prejudice." }, { "text": "Her life had become a battle for survival.", "contextForm": "battle for something" }, { "text": "the battle for human rights" }, { "text": "his battle with alcoholism", "contextForm": "battle with something" }, { "text": "They have been at the forefront of the battle to save the hospital.", "contextForm": "battle to do something" } ], "topics": ["Success", "Difficulty and failure"], "collocations": { "adjective": ["bitter", "fierce", "heated"], "verb + battle": ["do", "engage in", "fight"], "battle + verb": ["rage", "begin", "ensue"], "preposition": ["battle against", "battle between", "battle for"], "phrases": [ "a battle of ideas", "a battle of words", "a battle of wills" ] } }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to say that people or groups have shown which side they intend to support in an argument or contest that is going to begin", "examples": [], "topics": ["Opinion and argument"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to fight or argue with somebody", "examples": [ { "text": "He was quite prepared to do battle with his boss over his promotion." }, { "text": "Are you prepared to do battle with your insurance company over the claim?" } ], "topics": ["Opinion and argument"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be able to win an argument or get what you want without anyone’s help", "examples": [ { "text": "I wouldn't get involved—he's old enough to fight his own battles." }, { "text": "My parents believed in leaving me to fight my own battles." } ], "topics": ["Opinion and argument"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "the most important or difficult part of achieving something", "examples": [ { "text": "When you’ve got a difficult day ahead, getting a good night’s sleep is often half the battle." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to begin fighting somebody", "labels": "(formal)(figurative)", "examples": [ { "text": "The two armies joined battle." }, { "text": "Local residents have joined battle with the council over the lack of parking facilities." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "(to try to do) something that you will probably never succeed in doing", "examples": [ { "text": "I’m fighting a losing battle against the mess in this house!" }, { "text": "She wanted him to take some responsibility for his actions, but she knew it was a losing battle." } ], "topics": ["Difficulty and failure"] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/ˈbætl/", "audio": "ba/battle/battle__gb_2.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/ˈbætl/", "audio": "ba/battle/battle__us_2.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Old French bataille (noun), bataillier (verb), based on late Latin battualia ‘military or gladiatorial exercises’, from Latin battuere ‘to beat’." }