ENGLISH
REFERENCE

battle

n. · v. · adj.
US //ˈbætəɫ// UK //bˈætəl// bat·tle
  1. 1 military fight (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Military

    a large fight between two armies or groups during a war.

    a sustained fight between large organized armed forces, typically part of a larger war or campaign.

    Example

    The soldiers prepared for a long battle in the valley.

    Example

    Historians argue that the battle was the decisive turning point of the war, forcing the invading army to retreat across the border.
  2. 2 difficult struggle (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a long and difficult effort to deal with a problem or achieve something.

    a metaphorical struggle or competition between opposing forces, ideas, or individuals.

    Example

    She won her battle against the illness after months of treatment.

    Example

    The legal battle over the patent rights lasted for nearly a decade, exhausting the financial resources of both small tech firms.
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  1. 3 to fight or struggle (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to fight against someone or to try very hard to overcome a problem.

    to engage in a fight or to strive vigorously against an obstacle or opponent.

    Example

    Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours before it was under control.

    Example

    The charity continues to battle against poverty in the region, despite facing significant logistical and political hurdles.

    Usage

    Often used with the preposition 'against' or 'with'.
  2. 4 fertile land (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Dialect British English Agriculture

    describing land or grass that is very good for feeding animals.

    referring to pasture or soil that is nutritious for livestock or naturally fertile.

    Example

    The sheep grew fat on the battle grass of the valley.

    Example

    The farmer noted that the battle soil in the lower fields consistently produced a higher yield than the rocky slopes to the north.
Etymology 1

From Middle English batel, batell, batelle, batayle, bataylle, borrowed from Old French bataille, from Late Latin battālia, variant of battuālia (“fighting and fencing exercises”) from Latin battuō (“to strike, hit, beat, fight”), of uncertain origin. Possibly from a Gaulish or Proto-Germanic root from Proto-Indo-European bʰedʰ- (“to stab, dig”), related to Old English beado (“battle”); or possibly from a Proto-Indo-European bʰew- (“to hit, strike, beat”). Doublet of battalia and battel. Displaced native Old English ġefeoht, beado, camp, and wīg (“battle”), among others.

Etymology 2

From Early Modern English batell, probably from Middle English batel (“flourishing”), from Old English batol (“improving, tending to be good”), from batian (“to get better, improve”) + -ol ( + -le).

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