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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Combat: Meaning, Examples, and Usage (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：fighting in war (combat)

combat 🔊

/ˈkɒm.bæt/

Fighting, especially as part of a war.

Soldiers in hand-to-hand combat training in dusty field

fighting in war 🔊

➕

/ˈfaɪtɪŋ ɪn wɔːr/

Physical fighting between armed forces or individuals, especially during a war.

📁 Category：Warfare & Battle 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'com-' (together) + 'battuere' (to beat), meaning 'to fight together'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'come' and 'bat' — they come together to bat each other.

📖 Example

In the modern war game, soldiers engage in intense combat in urban environments. 🔊 In the modern war game, soldiers engage in intense combat in urban environments.

🔗 Collocations

hand-to-hand combat – Fighting at close quarters with physical force or weapons

combat zone – An area where active fighting occurs in a war

combat fatigue – Psychological stress from prolonged fighting, also known as PTSD

🔄 Synonyms

battle (n.) – A sustained fight between opposing forces

warfare (n.) – Engagement in or the activities of war

fighting (n.) – The act of struggling or contending with an opponent

🚫 Antonyms

peace (n.) – Freedom from conflict or violence

truce (n.) – A temporary halt in fighting

ceasefire (n.) – An agreement to stop active combat

🌱 Derivatives

combatant (n.) – A person who takes part in fighting

combative (adj.) – Ready or eager to fight

non-combat (adj.) – Not involving or relating to fighting

📖 Cultural Story

Combat entered English via Old French 'combattre', from Latin 'combattere'. It originally referred to hand-to-hand fighting in medieval tournaments. Today, it is widely used in military and sports contexts.

Meaning 2：actively oppose (combat)

combat 🔊

/ˈkɒm.bæt/

To actively fight against or try to stop something bad.

Scientist combating disease with microscope in lab

actively oppose 🔊

➕

/ˈæktɪvli əˈpoʊz/

To take action to reduce or prevent something harmful or undesirable.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Scientists are researching new medicines to combat the spread of the virus. 🔊 Scientists are researching new medicines to combat the spread of the virus.

🔗 Collocations

combat crime – To take measures to reduce illegal activities

combat poverty – To work toward eliminating economic hardship

combat climate change – To address global warming through action

🔄 Synonyms

fight (v.) – To strive to overcome or prevent something

resist (v.) – To withstand or oppose actively

counter (v.) – To act in opposition to something

🚫 Antonyms

promote (v.) – To support or encourage the growth of something

encourage (v.) – To give support, confidence, or hope

support (v.) – To bear or hold up; to assist or favor

🌱 Derivatives

combatable (adj.) – Able to be fought against or overcome

combater (n.) – A person who combats something (less common)