Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - fight

 I. verb  (fought; ~ing)  Etymology: Middle English, from Old English feohtan; akin to Old High German fehtan to ~ and perhaps to Latin pectere to comb — more at pectinate  Date: before 12th century  intransitive verb  1.  a. to contend in battle or physical combat; especially to strive to overcome a person by blows or weapons  b. to engage in boxing  2. to put forth a determined effort  transitive verb  1.  a.  (1) to contend against in or as if in battle or physical combat  (2) to box against in the ring  b.  (1) to attempt to prevent the success or effectiveness of the company fought the takeover attempt  (2) to oppose the passage or development of ~ a bill in Congress  2.  a. wage, carry on ~ a battle  b. to take part in (as a boxing match)  3. to struggle to endure or surmount ~ a cold  4.  a. to gain by struggle ~s his way through  b. to resolve by struggle fought out their differences in court  5.  a. to manage (a ship) in a battle or storm  b. to cause to struggle or contend  c. to manage in an unnecessarily rough or awkward manner  II. noun  Date: before 12th century  1.  a. a hostile encounter ; battle, combat  b. a boxing match  c. a verbal disagreement ; argument  2. a struggle for a goal or an objective a ~ for justice  3. strength or disposition for ~ing ; pugnacity still full of ~