1
conflict: …talks aimed at ending four decades of conflict.
clash: There were a number of clashes between police and demonstrators.
combat: Over 16 million men had died in combat.
attack: …a campaign of air attacks on strategic targets.
2
dispute: They have won previous pay disputes with the government.
struggle: He is currently locked in a power struggle with his Prime Minister.
debate: An intense debate is going on within the Israeli government.
ba ttle-axe (battle-axes ) The spellings battleaxe , and in American English battle-ax are also used. 1 N‑COUNT If you call a middle-aged or older woman a battle-axe , you mean she is very difficult and unpleasant because of her fierce and determined attitude. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
2 N‑COUNT A battle-axe is a large axe that was used as a weapon.
ba t|tle cruis|er (battle cruisers ) also battlecruiser N‑COUNT A battle cruiser is a large fast warship that is lighter than a battleship and moves more easily.
ba t|tle cry (battle cries ) also battle-cry
1 N‑COUNT A battle cry is a phrase that is used to encourage people to support a particular cause or campaign. □ Their battle-cry will be: 'Sign this petition before they sign away your country.'
2 N‑COUNT A battle cry is a shout that soldiers give as they go into battle.
battle|field /bæ t ə lfiːld/ (battlefields )
1 N‑COUNT A battlefield is a place where a battle is fought. □ …the battlefields of the Somme.
2 N‑COUNT You can refer to an issue or field of activity over which people disagree or compete as a battlefield . □ …the domestic battlefield of family life.
battle|ground /bæ t ə lgraʊnd/ (battlegrounds )
1 N‑COUNT A battleground is the same as a battlefield .
2 N‑COUNT You can refer to an issue or field of activity over which people disagree or compete as a battleground . □ …the battleground of education. □ Children's literature is an ideological battleground.
bat|tle|ments /bæ t ə lmənts/ N‑PLURAL The battlements of a castle or fortress consist of a wall built round the top, with gaps through which guns or arrows can be fired.
battle|ship /bæ t ə lʃ I p/ (battleships ) N‑COUNT A battleship is a very large, heavily armed warship.
bat|ty /bæ ti/ (battier , battiest ) ADJ If you say that someone is batty , you mean that they are rather eccentric or slightly crazy. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ Laura's going a bit batty. □ …some batty uncle of theirs.
bau|ble /bɔː b ə l/ (baubles ) N‑COUNT A bauble is a small, cheap ornament or piece of jewellery. □ …Christmas trees decorated with coloured baubles.
baulk /bɔː lk, [AM ] bɔː k/ → see balk
baux|ite /bɔː ksa I t/ N‑UNCOUNT Bauxite is a clay-like substance from which aluminium is obtained.
bawdy /bɔː di/ (bawdier , bawdiest ) ADJ A bawdy story or joke contains humorous references to sex. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
bawl /bɔː l/ (bawls , bawling , bawled )
1 VERB If you bawl , you shout in a very loud voice, for example because you are angry or you want people to hear you. □ [V + at ] When I came back to the hotel Laura and Peter were shouting and bawling at each other. □ [V with quote] Then a voice bawled: 'Lay off! I'll kill you, you little rascal!'. □ [V n] He tried to direct the video like a fashion show, bawling instructions to the girls. ● PHRASAL VERB Bawl out means the same as bawl . □ [V P with quote] Someone in the audience bawled out 'Not him again!' [Also V P n, V n P , V P + to ]
2 VERB If you say that a child is bawling , you are annoyed because it is crying loudly. □ [V ] One of the toddlers was bawling, and the other had a runny nose. □ [V -ing] …a bawling baby. [Also V with quote]
bay ◆◇◇ /be I / (bays , baying , bayed )
1 N‑COUNT [oft in names] A bay is a part of a coast where the land curves inwards. □ …a short ferry ride across the bay. □ …the Bay of Bengal. □ …the San Francisco Bay area.
2 N‑COUNT A bay is a partly enclosed area, inside or outside a building, that is used for a particular purpose. □ The animals are herded into a bay, then butchered. □ The car reversed into the loading bay.
3 N‑COUNT A bay is an area of a room which extends beyond the main walls of a house, especially an area with a large window at the front of a house.
4 ADJ A bay horse is reddish-brown in colour.
5 VERB [usu cont] If a number of people are baying for something, they are demanding something angrily, usually that someone should be punished. □ [V + for ] The referee ignored voices baying for a penalty. □ [V -ing] …the baying crowd.
6 VERB If a dog or wolf bays , it makes loud, long cries. □ [V + at ] A dog suddenly howled, baying at the moon. [Also V ]
7 → see also sick bay
8 PHRASE If you keep something or someone at bay , or hold them at bay , you prevent them from reaching, attacking, or affecting you. □ Eating oranges keeps colds at bay. □ Prisoners armed with baseball bats used the hostages to hold police at bay.