com·bat (kəm-băt', kŏm'băt')

v., -bat·ed, or -bat·ted, -bat·ing, or -bat·ting, -bats, or -bats.

v.tr.

1. To oppose in battle; fight against.
2. To oppose vigorously; struggle against. See synonyms at oppose.

v.intr.
To engage in fighting; contend or struggle.

n. (kŏm'băt')
Fighting, especially armed battle; strife. See synonyms at conflict.

adj. (kŏm'băt')

1. Of or relating to combat: flew 50 combat missions.
2. Intended for use or deployment in combat: combat boots; combat troops.

[French combattre, from Old French, from Late Latin combattere : Latin com-, com- + Latin battere, to beat (alteration of battuere).]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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