Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - compete

~ v 1 »PERSON/BUSINESS« to try to be more successful than another person or organization, especially in business  (They found themselves competing with foreign companies for a share of the market.) + for  (She and her sister are always competing for attention.) + agains  (businesses competing against each other) compete to do sth  (Several advertising agencies are competing to get the contract. | can't compete (=be unable to compete, especially with something bigger or better))  (Small, independent bookstores simply can't compete with the big national chains.) 2 »IN A COMPETITION« to take part in a competition or sporting event  (How many runners will be competing in the marathon?) 3 can't compete with sb/sth to not be as interesting, attractive etc as someone or something else  (Melinda was plain and knew she couldn't compete with her sister where boys were concerned.) 4 »SOUND/SMELL« I+ with) if a sound or smell competes with another sound or smell, you can hear/smell both equally well  (The songs of the birds competed with the sound of the church bells.) 5 »IDEAS/ARGUMENTS« if two ideas, arguments, claims etc compete with each other, they cannot both be right