war
noun [ C or U ] uk/wɔːr/ us/wɔːr/
A2 （国家或群体之间的）战争
armed fighting between two or more countries or groups, or a particular example of this
nuclear war 核战争
a war film/grave/hero/poet 战争影片／军人墓／战斗英雄／战争诗人
If this country goes to (= starts to fight in a) war we will have to face the fact that many people will die. 如果这个国家参战，我们将不得不面对很多人都要送命的现实。
Britain and France declared war on Germany in 1939 as a result of the invasion of Poland. 因为德国入侵波兰，所以英国和法国于1939年对德宣战。
War broke out between the two countries after a border dispute. 边界纠纷导致两国之间爆发了战争。
They've been at war for the last five years. 过去5年他们一直在交战。
He died in the First World War/the Vietnam war. 他在第一次世界大战／越南战争中丧生。
war of attrition 消耗战
a war that is fought over a long period and only ends when one side has neither the soldiers and equipment nor the determination left to continue fighting
war of nerves 神经战，心理战
a situation, often before a competition or battle, in which each opposing side attempts to frighten or discourage the other by making threats or by showing how strong it is
C2 争夺，竞争
any situation in which there is strong competition between opposing sides or a great fight against something harmful
The past few months have witnessed a price war between leading supermarkets. 最近几个月几家主要的超市之间爆发了一场价格战。
The president vowed to wage war on/against terrorism. 总统发誓要打击恐怖主义。
the war on drugs 打击毒品的战斗
- More examples
- The war has claimed thousands of lives.
- The prime minister is to meet his European counterparts to discuss the war against drugs.
- America declared war on Japan in 1941.
- There is likely to be civil war if the region tries to secede from the south.
- The number of casualties was appallingly high in both wars.
Idioms
be in the warsidiom UK informal 身上多处受伤
to have injuries to many different parts of the body
You've got a cut on your arm as well, you poor thing. You really have been in the wars! 你胳膊上也有道伤口，可怜的家伙。你真的受了不少伤！
war clouds are gatheringidiom literary (also clouds of war are gathering) 战争阴云;战争的预兆
If you say that war clouds are gathering over a particular country, you mean that a war seems increasingly likely there.
It was the 1930s and war clouds were gathering on the horizon in Europe. 时值20世纪30年代，战争的阴云笼罩在欧洲的地平线上。