[verb kuh m-bat, kom-bat, kuhm-; noun kom-bat, kuhm-] /verb kəmˈbæt, ˈkɒm bæt, ˈkʌm-; noun ˈkɒm bæt, ˈkʌm-/

verb (used with object), combated, combating or (especially British) combatted, combatting.
to fight or contend against; oppose vigorously:
to combat crime.
verb (used without object), combated, combating or (especially British) combatted, combatting.
to battle; contend:
to combat with disease.
Military. active, armed fighting with enemy forces.
noun (ˈkɒmbæt; -bət; ˈkʌm-)
a fight, conflict, or struggle

single combat, a fight between two individuals; duel
close combat, hand-to-hand combat, fighting at close quarters
verb (kəmˈbæt; ˈkɒmbæt; ˈkʌm-) -bats, -bating, -bated
(transitive) to fight or defy
(intransitive; often foll by with or against) to struggle or strive (against); be in conflict (with): to combat against disease

1560s, from Middle French combat (16c.), from Old French combattre (12c.), from Late Latin combattere, from Latin com- “with” (each other) (see com-) + battuere “to beat, fight” (see batter (v.)). Related: Combated; combating; combatted; combatting.

1560s, from Middle French combat (16c.), from combattre (see combat (v.)).


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