TOP

Definition of warfare noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

warfare

noun
 
/ˈwɔːfeə(r)/
 
/ˈwɔːrfer/
[uncountable]
jump to other results
  1. the activity of fighting a war, especially using particular weapons or methods
    • air/naval/guerrilla warfare
    • countries engaged in warfare
    Collocations War and peaceWar and peaceStarting a war
    • declare/​make/​wage war (on somebody/​something)
    • go to war (against/​with somebody)
    • cause/​spark/​provoke/​foment/​quell unrest
    • incite/​lead/​crush/​suppress a revolt/​rebellion
    • launch/​mount/​carry out a surprise/​terrorist attack
    • prevent/​halt/​represent an escalation of the conflict
    • be torn apart by/​be on the brink of civil war
    • enter/​invade/​occupy somebody’s territory
    • lead/​launch/​resist/​repel an invasion
    Military operations
    • adopt/​develop/​implement/​pursue a military strategy
    • carry out/​execute/​perform military operations/​manoeuvres
    • send/​deploy/​station/​pull back/​withdraw troops
    • go on/​fly/​carry out a reconnaissance/​rescue mission
    • train/​equip/​deploy army/​military/​combat units
    • lead/​launch/​conduct a raid/​a surprise attack/​an (air/​airborne/​amphibious) assault (on somebody)
    • employ/​use guerrilla tactics
    • conduct/​wage biological/​guerrilla warfare
    • fight/​crush/​defeat the rebels/​the insurgency
    • suffer/​inflict a crushing defeat
    • achieve/​win a decisive victory
    • halt/​stop the British/​German/​Russian advance
    • order/​force a retreat
    Fighting
    • join/​serve in the army/​navy/​air force
    • be/​go/​remain/​serve on active duty
    • serve/​complete/​return from a tour of duty
    • be sent to the front (line)
    • attack/​strike/​engage/​defeat/​kill/​destroy the enemy
    • see/​report/​be engaged in heavy fighting
    • call for/​be met with armed resistance
    • come under heavy/​machine-gun/​mortar fire
    • fire a machine-gun/​mortar shells/​rockets (at somebody/​something)
    • shoot a rifle/​a pistol/​bullets/​missiles
    • launch/​fire a cruise/​ballistic/​anti-tank missile
    • use biological/​chemical/​nuclear weapons
    • inflict/​suffer/​sustain heavy losses/​casualties
    • be hit/​killed by enemy/​friendly/​artillery fire
    • become/​be held as a prisoner of war
    Civilians in war
    • harm/​kill/​target/​protect innocent/​unarmed civilians
    • cause/​avoid/​limit/​minimize civilian casualties/​collateral damage
    • impose/​enforce/​lift a curfew
    • engage in/​be a victim of ethnic cleansing
    • be sent to an internment/​a concentration camp
    • accept/​house/​resettle refugees fleeing from war
    • fear/​threaten military/​violent reprisals
    • commit/​be accused of war crimes/​crimes against humanity/​genocide
    Making peace
    • make/​bring/​win/​achieve/​maintain/​promote peace
    • call for/​negotiate/​broker/​declare a ceasefire/​a temporary truce
    • sign a ceasefire agreement
    • call for/​bring/​put an end to hostilities
    • demand/​negotiate/​accept the surrender of somebody/​something
    • establish/​send (in) a peacekeeping force
    • negotiate/​conclude/​ratify/​sign/​accept/​reject/​break/​violate a peace treaty
    see also biological warfare, chemical warfare, germ warfare
    Extra Examples
    • The rebels waged guerrilla warfare against the army.
    • warfare against other tribes
    • The fighting quickly turned into full-scale guerrilla warfare.
    Topics War and conflictc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • open
    • conventional
    • modern
    verb + warfare
    • conduct
    • engage in
    • wage
    preposition
    • warfare  against
    • warfare  between
    See full entry
  2. the activity of competing in an aggressive way with another group, company, etc.
    • gang warfare
    • The debate soon degenerated into open warfare.
    • warfare between gangs
    see also class warfare, psychological warfare
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • open
    • conventional
    • modern
    verb + warfare
    • conduct
    • engage in
    • wage
    preposition
    • warfare  against
    • warfare  between
    See full entry
See warfare in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee warfare in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
buttercup
noun
 
 
From the Topic
Plants and trees
C2
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day