melee

(mā'lā', mā-lā') also mê·lée (mĕ-lā')
n.

1. 1. Confused, hand-to-hand fighting in a pitched battle.
   2. A violent free-for-all. See synonyms at brawl.
2. A confused tumultuous mingling, as of a crowd: the rush-hour melee.

[French mêlée, from Old French meslee, past participle of mesler, to mix. See meddle.]

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noun

A quarrel, fight, or disturbance marked by very noisy, disorderly, and often violent behavior: affray, brawl, broil², donnybrook, fray, free-for-all, riot, row², ruction, tumult. Informal fracas. Slang rumble. See attack/defend.

n

Definition: battle, fight
Antonyms: agreement, peace

[ܒmāܖlā; māܒlā] also mêlée

ˈmāܖlā; māˈlā also mêlée n. a confused fight, skirmish, or scuffle: several people were hurt in the melee.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

IN BRIEF: A confused struggle; an especially wild fight among many people.

A melee broke out in front of the theater before the controversial film started.

Tutor's tip: This word was used in the 2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee finals.

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An air battle in which several aircraft, both friend and foe, are confusingly intermingled.

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For a list of words related to melee, see:

• Fusses and Troubles
• Fights - melee: confusing crush of battling opponents

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See words rhyming with "melee."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Mêlée.

Dansk (Danish)
n. - håndgemæng, skærmydsel, slagsmål

Français (French)
n. - mêlée

Deutsch (German)
n. - Handgemenge, Gewühl

Italiano (Italian)
rissa, mischia

Português (Portuguese)
n. - confusão (f), entrevero (m)

Español (Spanish)
n. - pelea confusa, refriega, lucha, conflicto, confusión

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - skärmytsling, virrvarr

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