war
/wɔɹ/ noun A1- Organized, large-scale, armed conflict between countries or between national, ethnic, or other sizeable groups, usually but not always involving active engagement of military forces.
- A particular conflict of this kind. · a war of succession... a war of attrition... the Cold War... World War III...
- Protracted armed conflict against irregular forces, sometimes those considered terrorists. · the Great Emu War... the Global War on Terrorism...
- Protracted state or state-sponsored political violence against dissidents. · the Dirty War...
- A sustained campaign against a social problem, idea, set of values, etc.
- A protracted instance of fierce competition in trade. · price wars... Cola Wars... format wars...
- A protracted struggle between rival organizations for control of a particular institution. · FISA–FOCA war...
- A prolonged conflict between two groups of organized criminals, usually over organizational or territorial control. · turf war... gang war... Castellammarese War...
Plural wars
From the library
But when I tell you that there is some account of the taking of the place by a parliamentary colonel in 1644, of the concealment of Charles for several days in the course of the Civil War, and finally of a visit there by the second George, you will admit that there are various associations of interest connected with this ancient house.”
de Bonaparte; do not conceal anything, however serious,—let us see, the Island of Elba is a volcano, and we may expect to have issuing thence flaming and bristling war—bella, horrida bella.”
THE DOLPHINS and Whales waged a fierce war with each other.
It was worth while, truly,” added the young man with a melancholy smile, “to make war against the English for ten years, and to die in his bed at last, like everybody else.”
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