the activity or business of negotiating an agreement; coming to terms
a discussion intended to produce an agreement; "the buyout negotiation lasted several days"; "they disagreed but kept an open dialogue"; "talks between Israelis and Palestinians"
people in general (often used in the plural); "they're just country folk"; "folks around here drink moonshine"; "the common people determine the group character and preserve its customs from one generation to the next"
an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals); "the harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph"--Thomas Paine; "police tried to control the battle between the pro- and anti-abortion mobs"
an incompatibility of dates or events; "he noticed a conflict in the dates of the two meetings"
opposition between two simultaneous but incompatible feelings; "he was immobilized by conflict and indecision"
opposition in a work of drama or fiction between characters or forces (especially an opposition that motivates the development of the plot); "this form of conflict is essential to Mann's writing"
a state of opposition between persons or ideas or interests; "his conflict of interest made him ineligible for the post"; "a conflict of loyalties"
go against, as of rules and laws; "He ran afoul of the law"; "This behavior conflicts with our rules"
maintain or assert; "He contended that Communism had no future"
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight; "the tribesmen fought each other"; "Siblings are always fighting"; "Militant groups are contending for control of the country"
something regarded as a normative example; "the convention of not naming the main character"; "violence is the rule not the exception"; "his formula for impressing visitors"
a decisive manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase
an offensive move in a sport or game; "they won the game with a 10-hit attack in the 9th inning"
the act of attacking; "attacks on women increased last year"; "they made an attempt on his life"
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons); "the attack began at dawn"
strong criticism; "he published an unexpected attack on my work"
the onset of a corrosive or destructive process (as by a chemical agent); "the film was sensitive to attack by acids"; "open to attack by the elements"
a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition; "an attack of diarrhea"
begin to injure; "The cancer cells are attacking his liver"; "Rust is attacking the metal"
set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task; "I attacked the problem as soon as I got out of bed"
attack in speech or writing; "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker"
take the initiative and go on the offensive; "The Serbs attacked the village at night"; "The visiting team started to attack"
launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with; "Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II"; "Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week"