Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - conflict

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English, from Latin ~us act of striking together, from confligere to strike together, from com- + fligere to strike — more at profligate  Date: 15th century  1. fight, battle, war an armed ~  2.  a. competitive or opposing action of incompatibles ; antagonistic state or action (as of divergent ideas, interests, or persons)  b. mental struggle resulting from incompatible or opposing needs, drives, wishes, or external or internal demands  3. the opposition of persons or forces that gives rise to the dramatic action in a drama or fiction  Synonyms: see discord  • ~ful adjective  • ~ual adjective  II. intransitive verb  Date: 15th century  1. archaic to contend in warfare  2. to show antagonism or irreconcilability ; fail to be in agreement or accord his statement ~s with the facts  • ~ion noun  • ~ive adjective