skirmishskir‧mish /ˈskɜːmɪʃ $ ˈskɜːr-/ noun [countable] 
Word Origin
The young soldier was killed in a skirmish with government troops.► see thesaurus at war2a short argument, especially between political or sports opponentsskirmish with/between/over Bates was sent off after a skirmish with the referee. a budget skirmish between the president and Congress—skirmish verb [intransitive]: They skirmished briefly with soldiers from Fort Benton.
Word OriginWORD ORIGINskirmish
ExamplesOrigin:
1300-1400 Old French escaramouche, from Old Italian scaramucciaEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- Government soldiers ran into a group of rebels, and a skirmish followed.
- Last night skirmishes were reported along the border.
- SAIC's previous skirmishes with investigators had attracted little attention.
- But what began in May 1998 as a skirmish over a remote stretch of border exposed a deep reservoir of bitterness.
- He talks of regrouping like a colonel after a skirmish at Yellow Tavern.
- Individual skirmishes flickered and stuttered in the distance.
- On this last one, grunts had made light contact and reported several skirmishes where we had dropped them.
- Such are the preliminary skirmishes of all new foundations.
- The peace of Utrecht ended the war proper in 1713, but desultory skirmishes carried on until 1714.
- They might well prevail in any skirmish with the local forces, but in the circumstances that would be of little profit.
- This was the first tiny skirmish in what was to be a major battle.
THESAURUS► war
1a fight between small groups of soldiers, ships etc, especially one that happens away from the main part of a battle – used in news reportsskirmish with/between/over 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
► conflict 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.
► fighting 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.
► hostilities noun [plural] formal fighting in a war: · The agreement called on the guerrillas to cease hostilities (=stop fighting) and begin peace talks.
► warfare 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
► battle 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.
► skirmish 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.
► combat noun [uncountable] the act of fighting, especially during a war: · Few of them had any experience of combat.· hand-to-hand combat
► action 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.
an argument that is not very serious► squabble an argument about something that is not important: · There were the usual squabbles between brothers and sisters.· Voters are tired of petty squabbles between party leaders.
► tiff informal an argument that is not very serious, between people who are in love: · Gary had a bit of a tiff with his girlfriend.
► misunderstanding a slight argument – a rather formal word which is often used humorously: · There was a slight misunderstanding over the bill, but everything’s been sorted out now.
► skirmish a short argument, especially between politicians or sports opponents: · Evans and O'Brien had several political skirmishes.
Longman Language Activatorfighting between countries or armies► war 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.
► conflict 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.
► rebellion 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.
► fighting 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.
► warfare 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.
► hostilities 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.
► battle 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.
► skirmish 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 SETS► Militaryaction 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
The young soldier was killed in a skirmish with government troops.► see thesaurus at war2a short argument, especially between political or sports opponentsskirmish with/between/over Bates was sent off after a skirmish with the referee. a budget skirmish between the president and Congress—skirmish verb [intransitive]: They skirmished briefly with soldiers from Fort Benton.