Bat·tle, n.
 1. A general action, fight, or encounter, in which all the divisions of an army are or may be engaged; an engagement; a combat.
 2. A struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life.
    The whole intellectual battle that had at its center the best poem of the best poet of that day.   --H. Morley.
 3. A division of an army; a battalion. [Obs.]
    The king divided his army into three battles.   --Bacon.
    The cavalry, by way of distinction, was called the battle, and on it alone depended the fate of every action.   --Robertson.
 4. The main body, as distinct from the van and rear; battalia. [Obs.]
 Note: ☞ Battle is used adjectively or as the first part of a self-explaining compound; as, battle brand, a “brand” or sword used in battle; battle cry; battlefield; battle ground; battle array; battle song.
 Battle piece, a painting, or a musical composition, representing a battle.
 Battle royal. (a) A fight between several gamecocks, where the one that stands longest is the victor. --Grose. (b) A contest with fists or cudgels in which more than two are engaged; a mêlée. --Thackeray.
 Drawn battle, one in which neither party gains the victory.
 To give battle, to attack an enemy.
 To join battle, to meet the attack; to engage in battle.
 Pitched battle, one in which the armies are previously drawn up in form, with a regular disposition of the forces.
 Wager of battle. See under Wager, n.
 Syn: -- Conflict; encounter; contest; action.
 Usage: Battle, Combat, Fight, Engagement. These words agree in denoting a close encounter between contending parties. Fight is a word of less dignity than the others. Except in poetry, it is more naturally applied to the encounter of a few individuals, and more commonly an accidental one; as, a street fight. A combat is a close encounter, whether between few or many, and is usually premeditated. A battle is commonly more general and prolonged. An engagement supposes large numbers on each side, engaged or intermingled in the conflict.