war

war [ wɔr ] noun ***

▸ 1 when countries fight

▸ 2 effort to stop something

▸ 3 when people compete

▸ 4 when people fight/argue

▸ 5 World War II

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) uncount fighting between two or more countries, that involves the use of the military and usually continues for a long time:

The negotiations failed, and war now seemed inevitable.

the ever-present threat of nuclear war

be at war (with): They had been at war for five years, and there was still no sign of victory.

go to war: Let's hope they can find a solution without going to war.

war breaks out: I volunteered for the Navy when war broke out.

declare war (on) (=formally announce the start of a war): When Poland was invaded, the Allies had no choice but to declare war.

a ) uncount fighting between opposing groups within one country: CIVIL WAR:

Sierra Leone had endured ten years of war.

b ) count a particular period of fighting between countries or groups of people:

the Revolutionary War

war between: the wars between England and Scotland in the 14th century

war against/with: The King led England into another war against France.

2. ) count or uncount a determined and organized effort to control or stop something, for example a disease or crime:

war against: This is a major victory in the war against drugs.

wage/declare war on something: We will continue to wage war on organized crime.

3. ) count a situation in which countries, organizations, or businesses compete with each other to gain economic power or control:

This could easily start a trade war.

war for: the war for supremacy in the fast-food industry

4. ) count or uncount OFTEN HUMOROUS a situation in which two people or groups of people fight, argue, or are extremely unpleasant to each other:

He was angry, but reluctant to declare war on his old friends.

You know this means war!

5. ) the war MAINLY BRITISH WORLD WAR II

between the wars MAINLY BRITISH

during the period of time between World War I and World War II

a war of words

a situation in which two people or groups continuously criticize each other in public because they disagree seriously about something

=> NERVE1 3A, WARRING