combat

1 an engagement fought between two military forces [syn: armed combat]

2 the act of fighting; any contest or struggle; "a fight broke out at the hockey game"; "there was fighting in the streets"; "the unhappy couple got into a terrible scrap" [syn: fight, fighting, scrap] v : battle or contend against in or as if in a battle; "The Kurds are combating Iraqi troops in Nothern Iraq"; "We must combat the prejudices against other races"; "they battled over the budget" [syn: battle] [also: combatting, combatted]

English

Pronunciation

• noun

rfap verb

• Rhymes: -æt

Noun

1. A battle, a fight (often one in which weapons are used); a struggle for victory.

Translations

Verb

1. To fight; to struggle for victory

Translations

French

Verb

Combat, or fighting, is purposeful violent conflict intended to establish dominance over the opposition.

The term "combat" (French for fight) typically refers to armed conflict between military forces in warfare, whereas the more general term "fighting" can refer to any violent conflict, including boxing and wrestling matches, or street fighting. Combat violence can be unilateral, whereas fighting implies at least a defensive reaction. However, the terms are often used synonymously.

Combat may take place under a certain set of rules or be unregulated. Examples of rules include the Geneva Conventions (covering the treatment of soldiers in war), medieval Chivalry, and the Marquess of Queensberry rules (covering boxing).

Combat in warfare involves two or more opposing military organizations, usually fighting for nations at war (although guerrilla warfare and suppression of insurgencies can fall outside this definition). Warfare falls under the laws of war, which govern its purposes and conduct, and protect the rights of soldiers and non-combatants.

Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed (not using weapons). Hand-to-hand combat (mêlée) is combat at very close range, feeling the opponent with the body (striking, kicking, strangling, etc.) and/or with a mêlée weapon (knives, swords, batons, etc.), as opposed to firing.

Hand-to-hand combat can be further divided into three sections depending on the distance and positioning of the combatants:

• Stand-up fighting
• Clinch fighting
• Ground fighting

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