warfarewar‧fare /ˈwɔːfeə $ ˈwɔːrfer/ ●○○ noun [uncountable] 
the realities of modern warfarechemical/nuclear/germ etc warfaretrench/jungle/mountain etc warfareguerrilla warfare (=fighting by small groups of fighters in mountains, forests etc)► see thesaurus at war2a continuous and often violent struggle or argument between different groupsclass/gang/internecine etc warfare the problems of drugs and gang warfare → psychological warfare at psychological(3)COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + warfarechemical warfare (=using chemicals, for example poisonous gases, as weapons)· the consequences of America’s chemical warfare in Vietnambiological/germ warfare (=using dangerous bacteria or illnesses as a weapon)· These bacteria might be used in biological warfare.nuclear warfare· the appalling consequences of nuclear warfare.conventional warfare (=not nuclear)· They had a stronger conventional warfare capability.ground warfare (=fighting on the ground, rather than in the air or on the sea)· Ground warfare took a heavy toll in casualties.trench warfare (=fighting from long holes dug into the ground)· There he experienced the full horrors of trench warfare.jungle warfare· The Japanese had been trained in jungle warfare.guerrilla warfare (=involving a small unofficial military group)· Sporadic fighting turned into full-scale guerrilla warfare.naval warfare· The age of modern naval warfare was at hand.verbswage warfare· Rebels waged guerrilla warfare against the occupying army.engage in warfare· The country did not want to engage in warfare.
WORD ORIGINwarfare
Origin:
1400-1500 war + fare ‘going, journey’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a secret underground chemical warfare plant
- Many people believe that what happened in 1940 was a British chemical warfare experiment that went wrong.
- the history of modern warfare
- The rebels aimed to overthrow the government through protracted guerrilla warfare.
- As in human warfare, chemical defences are essentially deterrents rather than everyday weapons.
- It quickly made Hanoi the most heavily bombed city in the history of warfare.
THESAURUS
noun [countable, uncountable] a situation in which there is fighting between countries or opposing groups within a country, with large numbers of soldiers and weapons: · He fought in World War II.· the horrors of war
noun [countable, uncountable] a situation in which there is fighting or a war – used especially in news reports: · the conflict in the Middle East· There is increasing danger of armed conflict.
noun [uncountable] a situation in which people or groups fight each other and try to kill each other: · The fighting went on for months.· Fighting in the north has resulted in hundreds of deaths.
noun [plural] formal fighting in a war: · The agreement called on the guerrillas to cease hostilities (=stop fighting) and begin peace talks.
noun [uncountable] the activity of fighting in a war – used especially to talk about a method of fighting: · new and more advanced methods of warfare· chemical warfare
noun [countable, uncountable] an occasion when two armies, groups of ships etc fight each other in one place during a war: · the great naval battles of the Napoleonic Wars· the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805· He died in battle.
noun [countable] a short fight between small groups of soldiers, ships etc, especially one that happens away from the main part of a war or battle: · There were minor skirmishes between Indian and Pakistani troops across the border.
noun [uncountable] the act of fighting, especially during a war: · Few of them had any experience of combat.· hand-to-hand combat
noun [uncountable] military actions carried out by the army, navy etc of a country during a war – used especially in the following phrases: · He was killed in action in 1944.· Her son went missing in action.· Her grandfather saw action (=fought) in two world wars.
Longman Language Activatorfighting between countries or armies a long period of fighting, when the armies, ships, and planes of two or more countries fight against each other: · the Vietnam War· When the war ended in 1945, Europe was in chaos.win/lose a war: · Who won the Franco-Prussian War?civil war (=war between groups of people from the same country): · More Americans died in the Civil War than in World War II.war against/with: · Iran's seven-year war with Iraqwar breaks out (=war begins): · In 1874, war broke out in Europe again.the outbreak of war (=the time when a war begins): · In the months leading up to the outbreak of war, both countries were involved in a massive arms build-up.war hero: · a war hero and former fighter pilotwar veteran (=a former soldier who fought in a war): · War veterans claim that they were exposed to chemical weapons while fighting in the Gulf.
a situation in which two countries or groups are fighting against each other - used especially in news reports: · the conflict in the Middle East· Can this peace settlement bring an end to years of conflict?· The conflict began early in December 1994.
an organized attempt to change or destroy the government by fighting against it: · The rebellion spread quickly through the Western Provinces.rebellion against: · an armed rebellion against the governmentcrush/put down a rebellion (=use force to stop it): · The army was brought in to crush the rebellion.
when soldiers fight against each other during a war or battle: · The UN had failed to stop the fighting in Rwanda.heavy/fierce fighting (=a lot of fighting when many people are hurt): · The streets of the capital are now quiet again, after three weeks of heavy fighting.renewed fighting (=fighting that starts again after it had stopped): · Some 15,000 people have fled the city, following renewed fighting.
the activity of fighting in a war - use this especially to talk about the methods of fighting that are used in war: · the history of modern warfarenuclear/chemical warfare (=fighting with nuclear bombs or poison gas): · a secret underground chemical warfare plant· Many people believe that what happened in 1940 was a British chemical warfare experiment that went wrong.guerrilla warfare (=when small unofficial military groups fight against the government): · The rebels aimed to overthrow the government through protracted guerrilla warfare.
written when two armies or opposing groups are fighting: · Land mines maim and kill innocent people, long after hostilities have ceased. · Mexican forces were ordered to avoid all hostilities with the American troops.end hostilities: · The two sides reach an agreement to end hostilities.the start/outbreak of hostilities: · The Japanese navy scored a success only two days after the start of hostilities, by sinking two British battleships.
a fight in one area between two armies, or two groups of ships or planes: · a naval battle in the North Seabattle of: · the Battle of the Sommewin/lose a battle: · The French lost the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.die/be wounded/be killed in battle: · King Olaf died in battle, in 1030.lead/send somebody into battle: · Lyndon Johnson first sent U.S. combat troops into battle in March 1965.
a short, unplanned, and usually not very important fight between two small groups of soldiers: · Last night skirmishes were reported along the border.· Government soldiers ran into a group of rebels, and a skirmish followed.
WORD SETSaction stations, nounaide-de-camp, nounairborne, adjectiveaircraft carrier, nounairlift, nounallied, adjectivearmour, nounarms control, nounarms race, nounarray, verbassault course, nounAWOL, adjectivebalance of power, nounbandmaster, nounbandsman, nounbase, nounbattle, nounbattle, verbbattle cry, nounbattlefield, nounbattlements, nounbeachhead, nounbivouac, nounblackout, nounblast, verbblitz, nounblockade, nounblockade, verbblockhouse, nounbloodshed, nounbody bag, nounbody count, nounbomb, verbbombard, verbbombardment, nounbomb disposal, nounboot camp, nounbowman, nounbreastplate, nounbridgehead, nounbunker, nouncall-up, nouncannonade, nouncapability, nouncaptain, nouncapture, nouncarrier, nouncashier, verbcenotaph, nounchief of staff, nouncitation, nouncivil defence, nounC.O., nouncommand, nouncommand, verbcommandant, nouncommander, nouncommander in chief, nouncommand post, nouncommissariat, nouncommissary, nouncommission, nouncommissioned officer, nounconquer, verbconquest, nounconscientious objector, nounconscript, verbconscript, nounconscription, nounconvoy, verbcookhouse, nounCorp., corporal, nouncorps, nouncounterinsurgency, nouncounterintelligence, nouncountermand, verbcounter-revolution, nouncourt-martial, nouncourt-martial, verbcross, noundawn raid, noundeath camp, noundemilitarize, verbdemobilize, verbdeploy, verbdetonate, verbdisarm, verbdisarmament, noundispatch, noundraft board, noundraft card, noundraft dodger, noundraftee, noundress uniform, noundrum major, noundump, nounechelon, nounencamp, verbenemy, nounengage, verbengagement, nounenlist, verbenlisted, adjectiveexchange, nounex-serviceman, nounex-servicewoman, nounfield, verbfirst lieutenant, nounfirst strike, nounflak jacket, nounflash, nounfort, nounfortress, nounfoxhole, nounFPO, front, noungas mask, noungeneral headquarters, nounGHQ, nounguardhouse, nounheadquarters, nounhigh command, nounHQ, nounincursion, nounindefensible, adjectiveinsignia, nouninstallation, nouninsubordination, nounintelligence, nouninternment, nouninvade, verbinvader, nouninvasion, nounkit bag, nounKP, nounlieutenant, nounline, nounMaj., major, nounmajor general, nounman, nounmarch, verbmarch, nounmarch-past, nounmarshal, nounmassacre, nounmassacre, verbmess, nounmess, verbmilitarism, nounmilitarized, adjectiveMilitary Academy, nounMilitary Cross, nounmilitary service, nounmilitia, nounmilitiaman, nounminuteman, nounmission, nounMP, nounmutineer, nounmutinous, adjectivemutiny, nounnational service, nounNATO, nounNCO, nounno-man's-land, nounnon-aggression, nounnon-aligned, adjectivenon-combatant, nounobjective, nounobservation post, nounoccupation, nounoccupy, verboffence, nounoffensive, adjectiveoffensive, nounofficer, nounoperation, nounorderly, nounoutflank, verboutpost, nounoverthrow, verboverwhelm, verbpact, nounpadre, nounparade, nounparamilitary, adjectiveparapet, nounpartisan, nounpassword, nounpatrol, nounperilous, adjectiveperiscope, nounpillbox, nounpincer movement, nounpost, verbPOW, nounpre-war, adjectiveprisoner, nounprisoner of war, nounPurple Heart, nounpush, nounputsch, nounPX, nounquarter, verbquartermaster, nounquell, verbR & R, nounraid, nounraid, verbrank, nounrebellion, nounrecapture, verbreconnaissance, nounreconnoitre, verbrecruit, verbrecruit, nounreinforce, verbrelieve, verbRemembrance Day, nounrepel, verbrequisition, verbretake, verbretire, verbretreat, verbretreat, nounreview, nounreview, verbribbon, nounsabre-rattling, nounsally, nounsalute, verbsalute, nounsalvo, nounsamurai, nounscorched earth policy, nounscout, nounscout, verbscramble, verbsecond lieutenant, nounsentinel, nounsentry, nounsentry box, nounsergeant, nounsergeant major, nounserviceman, nounservicewoman, nounSgt., shell, verbshelling, nounsiege, nounskirmish, nounstaff officer, nounstaging area, nounstandard-issue, adjectivestar, nounstation, nounstation, verbstrategic, adjectivestrategist, nounstrategy, nounstripe, nounstronghold, nounsuperpower, nounsuppress, verbsurgical strike, nounsurrender, verbsurrender, nountactical, adjectivetarget, nountarget, verbtask force, nountattoo, nountheatre, nountrench warfare, nountripwire, nountruce, nounturret, noununarmed, adjectiveunoccupied, adjectivevalour, nounveteran, nounvolunteer, nounvolunteer, verbwar chest, nounwar crime, nounwar cry, nounwar dance, nounwar effort, nounwarfare, nounwarhorse, nounwarlike, adjectivewarlord, nounwar memorial, nounwarmonger, nounwarrant officer, nounwarring, adjectivewarrior, nounwar-torn, adjectivewar widow, nounwar zone, nounwounded, adjectivezero hour, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYADJECTIVES/NOUN + warfare American troops found themselves fighting a guerrilla war.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
(=using chemicals, for example poisonous gases, as weapons)· the consequences of America’s chemical warfare in Vietnam
(=using dangerous bacteria or illnesses as a weapon)· These bacteria might be used in biological warfare.
· the appalling consequences of nuclear warfare.
(=not nuclear)· They had a stronger conventional warfare capability.
(=fighting on the ground, rather than in the air or on the sea)· Ground warfare took a heavy toll in casualties.
(=fighting from long holes dug into the ground)· There he experienced the full horrors of trench warfare.
· The Japanese had been trained in jungle warfare.
(=involving a small unofficial military group)· Sporadic fighting turned into full-scale guerrilla warfare.
· The age of modern naval warfare was at hand.
verbs· Rebels waged guerrilla warfare against the occupying army.
· The country did not want to engage in warfare.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=the use of chemical weapons in wars)· There is now also the threat of chemical warfare.
(=fighting between gangs)· Gang warfare is wrecking the neighborhood.
American troops found themselves fighting a guerrilla war.· He knew then that the mystery of Titron was only partly explained by the secret biological warfare establishment.
· Unlike snakes, lizards have not specialised in chemical warfare.· It was during the episode of Supersense on chemical warfare and trap strategy.· The Soviet Union's response has been a relentless increase in its chemical warfare capability.· The only other type of mammal to employ chemical warfare is the duck-billed platypus.· There was also the threat of chemical warfare.· But the war was over, and the pressure to investigate chemical warfare agents disappeared.· The outbreak of a new war made defence against chemical warfare agents once again an urgent problem.
· According to a member of the United States delegation, a spirit of economic warfare permeated the conference.
· New Delhi need do no more than keep Kashmir under military occupation and keep the lid on guerrilla warfare.· The directive did not yet call for guerrilla warfare.· It gives detailed instructions on guerrilla warfare, converting shotguns into grenade-launchers and building home-made silencers for pistols.· I was in the jungle now and developing a taste for guerrilla warfare.· She did not notice that we had left the age of guerrilla warfare.
· To try to cut down on internecine warfare, Mr Florio oversaw annual meetings at which he encouraged publishers to work together.· Yet over the years internecine warfare has played an important role in shaping the Republican Party.· Proponents blamed internecine warfare among term-limits supporters for the setback.
· It would be ironic if a version capable of industrialising the practice becomes part of the landscape of modern warfare.· We need to remember that, unlike modern warfare, medieval campaigns were seasonal.· As the only country with first-hand experience of modern missile warfare at sea Britain will benefit from its hard learned lesson.· The age of modern naval warfare was at hand.· So much of modern warfare is not present to itself, takes place in the mind as if nowhere.
· That is, each side would promise not to be the first to launch nuclear weapons in warfare.
· Conflict is either avoided or is allowed to develop into open warfare. 6.· Hostility bordering on open warfare is typical of spouse-staff relations.· Since May 1998 they have been in-or close to-open warfare.· One night spent together didn't make a relationship out of open warfare.· For a time it was almost open warfare between them.· The lifelong feud between Jamie and Charles had turned into open warfare, then.· Perhaps it wasn't a good idea to launch into open warfare against some one like Eleanor.
· Mardonios in Thessaly continued Persia's political warfare.
· Like the military machinery, the psychological warfare gets ever more sophisticated.· A portable sound system blared military marches, part of a continuing campaign of psychological warfare.· As a last resort he decided to take a leaf out of the Oriental's book, by using psychological warfare against him.· But no one was better equipped for the psychological warfare that lay ahead.· Fred made up for his lack of inches by waging psychological warfare in the form of a relentless monologue.· Secrecy was out of the question; it would riot have been psychological warfare.· During the war he worked in psychological warfare, and doubtless learnt many of his more infuriating tricks of debating and persuasion.
· We can not afford to be lackadaisical in our spiritual warfare.· But confronting the principalities of darkness which foster this insidious violence has meant experiencing spiritual warfare as never before.· But I believe it to be true that in many corners of Christendom spiritual warfare is no longer a central concern.· They will also be concerned to engage in spiritual warfare.
· The tribal warfare between groups of chimps is both a cause and a consequence of the male tendency to build alliances.
NOUN· He accuses Boxer and others who are trying to outlaw his handguns of waging a kind of class warfare.· In short, the class warfare wing of the Democratic Party remains in control.· This is pure, vulgar class warfare without a howling proletariat.
· They become so excited during this gang warfare that humans can approach them much more closely than at other times.· As you see, the perfect recipe for gang warfare.· Dexter's interest lies not in gang warfare, but in the character of Peter Flood.· By 2015, bitter enmities played themselves out in gang warfare, narcotics traffic, and addiction.· This was gang warfare of a thoroughly nasty kind.· This was no jailhouse rock, this was gang warfare.· The gang warfare ripping through the shanties is fuelled by what has replaced politics after Aristide: prostitution, drugs and ritual.· Black and Latino Angelenos living in this area experienced joblessness, gang warfare, urban blight.
· For now, each branch of the military is studying how to engage in and protect itself against information warfare.
· Now the guides' training in jungle warfare came into its own.· For jungle warfare, Charlie had much better weapons: the AK47.
· More years of trench warfare and carnage on the Western Front.were now almost unavoidable.· The little-noticed trench warfare over Senate confirmation of presidential appointees is nothing new.· Lastly, trench warfare is a policy Mr Yeltsin has pursued with some success for much of the past 12 months.· Yet to continue trench warfare as before would be a mistake.· The musical evokes the courage and humour of the troops amidst the horror of trench warfare.
VERB· It is engaged in internecine warfare over the general provision of indemnity insurance for investors.· While the Germanic tribes were not always engaged in warfare, they were in a state of constant preparation for it.· They will also be concerned to engage in spiritual warfare.· She had come to wage peace, only to discover she was equally willing to engage in warfare.· For nearly a year, Sotheby's and Christie's engaged in warfare to secure the estate sale.
· Traditionally they were signals used in warfare, one to announce the attack, the other the retreat.· As a last resort he decided to take a leaf out of the Oriental's book, by using psychological warfare against him.· How has the cat been used in warfare?
· Fred made up for his lack of inches by waging psychological warfare in the form of a relentless monologue.· President Clinton and the Republican Senate are waging election-year warfare over the confirmation of 135 presidential appointees.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
- He knew then that the mystery of Titron was only partly explained by the secret biological warfare establishment.
- Regional conflicts - along with the proliferation of missiles and nuclear, chemical and biological weapons - present growing dangers.
- Schwarzkopf strongly defended his field commanders from allegations that they were careless about chemical and biological weapons.
- We tend to focus on nuclear but chemical and biological weapons, while not as devastating, would be plenty bad.
- A portable sound system blared military marches, part of a continuing campaign of psychological warfare.
- As a last resort he decided to take a leaf out of the Oriental's book, by using psychological warfare against him.
- But no one was better equipped for the psychological warfare that lay ahead.
- During the war he worked in psychological warfare, and doubtless learnt many of his more infuriating tricks of debating and persuasion.
- Fred made up for his lack of inches by waging psychological warfare in the form of a relentless monologue.
- Like the military machinery, the psychological warfare gets ever more sophisticated.
- Secrecy was out of the question; it would riot have been psychological warfare.
WORD FAMILYnounwarwarfarewarrioradjectivepre-war ≠ post-warwarring
1the activity of fighting in a war – used especially when talking about particular methods of fighting: the realities of modern warfarechemical/nuclear/germ etc warfaretrench/jungle/mountain etc warfareguerrilla warfare (=fighting by small groups of fighters in mountains, forests etc)► see thesaurus at war2a continuous and often violent struggle or argument between different groupsclass/gang/internecine etc warfare the problems of drugs and gang warfare → psychological warfare at psychological(3)COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + warfarechemical warfare (=using chemicals, for example poisonous gases, as weapons)· the consequences of America’s chemical warfare in Vietnambiological/germ warfare (=using dangerous bacteria or illnesses as a weapon)· These bacteria might be used in biological warfare.nuclear warfare· the appalling consequences of nuclear warfare.conventional warfare (=not nuclear)· They had a stronger conventional warfare capability.ground warfare (=fighting on the ground, rather than in the air or on the sea)· Ground warfare took a heavy toll in casualties.trench warfare (=fighting from long holes dug into the ground)· There he experienced the full horrors of trench warfare.jungle warfare· The Japanese had been trained in jungle warfare.guerrilla warfare (=involving a small unofficial military group)· Sporadic fighting turned into full-scale guerrilla warfare.naval warfare· The age of modern naval warfare was at hand.verbswage warfare· Rebels waged guerrilla warfare against the occupying army.engage in warfare· The country did not want to engage in warfare.