◙ noun 1. [mass noun] a state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups within a nation or state • 战争状态 »Japan declared war on Germany. 日本对德国宣战。 »Iran and Iraq had been at war for six years. 伊朗和伊拉克交战了六年。 [count noun] a particular armed conflict • 战争 »after the war, they emigrated to America. 战争结束后，他们移民去了美国。 a state of competition, conflict, or hostility between different people or groups • 竞争；冲突；对抗 »she was at war with her parents. 她正和父母闹别扭。 »[count noun] a price war among tour operators. 旅游承包商之间的价格战。 a sustained effort to deal with or end a particular unpleasant or undesirable situation or condition • 斗争 »the authorities are waging war against all forms of smuggling. 当局正在打击各种形式的走私活动。 »[count noun] a war on drugs. 反毒品斗争。 ◙ (warred, warring) 1. [no obj.] engage in a war • 进行战争；斗争 »small states warred against each another. 小国之间互相作战。 »conflicting emotions warred within her. 她在作感情斗争。
【IDIOMS】
◘ go to war 1. declare, begin, or see active service in a war • 宣战，进入战争状态；从军作战 ◘ go to the wars 1. (archaic)serve as a soldier • [古] 当兵 ◘ have been in the wars 1. [informal] have been hurt or injured • [非正式] 受过伤 ◘ war clouds 1. a threatening situation of instability in international relations • 战争阴云，国际紧张局势 »the war clouds were looming. 国际紧张局势迫在眉睫。 ◘ war of attrition 1. a prolonged war or period of conflict during which each side seeks to gradually wear out the other by a series of small-scale actions • 消耗战 ◘ war of nerves --› seenerve ◘ war of words 1. a prolonged debate conducted by means of the spoken or printed word • 唇枪舌剑 ◘ war to end all wars 1. a war, especially the First World War, regarded as making subsequent wars unnecessary • 结束所有战争的战争（尤指第一次世界大战）
【语源】
1. late Old English werre, from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French guerre, from a Germanic base shared by worse