American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth
Edition - n. A state of open, armed, often prolonged conflict
carried on between nations, states, or parties. - n. The period
of such conflict. - n. The techniques and procedures of war;
military science. - n. A condition of active antagonism or
contention: a war of words; a price war. - n. A concerted effort
or campaign to combat or put an end to something considered
injurious: the war against acid rain. - v. To wage or carry on
warfare. - v. To be in a state of hostility or rivalry; contend.
- idiom. at war In an active state of conflict or contention.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia - n. A contest beween nations
or states (international war), or between parties in the same
state (civil war), carried on by force of arms. International or
public war is always understood to be authorized by the
sovereign powers of the nations engaged in it; when it is
carried into the territories of the antagonist it is called an
aggressive or offensive war, and