combat

com|bat1 [ `kam,bæt ] noun *

1. ) uncount fighting during a war:

fears of escalating combat

in combat: soldiers killed in combat.

a ) count or uncount a fight, especially an organized fight, between two people:

unarmed combat (=without weapons)

b ) only before noun relating to fighting in a war:

combat force/troops/aircraft

a combat mission/zone

c ) only before noun used about clothes worn in the military, especially in a battle

2. ) singular attempts to stop something bad or to solve a difficult problem:

These enzymes are important in the combat against bacteria.

combat

com|bat 2 [ `kam,bæt, kəm`bæt ] verb transitive *

1. ) to do something to try to stop something bad from happening or a bad situation from becoming worse:

the need for effective action to combat global warming

measures to combat crime

2. ) VERY FORMAL to fight an enemy or opponent