a state of armed conflict between different countries or different groups within a country:Japan declared war on Germanythe two countries were at war for the next eight years [count noun]:I fought in two wars
a state of competition or hostility between different people or groups:she was at war with her parents [count noun]:a price war among tour operators
a sustained campaign against an undesirable situation or activity:the authorities are waging war against smuggling [count noun]:a war on drugs
ზმნა
Universal
engage in a war:small states warred against each another figurativeconflicting emotions warred within her
go to war
declare, begin, or see active service in a war:he joined the RAF before the country went to warof the four brothers who went to war, only Thomas survived
go to the wars
archaic serve as a soldier:I did all I could to dissuade him from going to the wars
be in the wars
informal be (or have been) injured:Roebuck continues to be in the wars and suffered a broken jaw
war clouds
used to refer to a threatening situation of instability in international relations:the war clouds were looming
war of attrition
a prolonged period of conflict during which each side seeks to gradually wear down the other by a series of small-scale actions.
