dogfight

Also found in: Thesaurus, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

dog·fight

(dôg′fīt′, dŏg′-)

a. A violent fight between or as if between dogs.

b. An illegal, organized fight between dogs, arranged for spectator entertainment and betting.

2. An aerial battle between fighter planes.

v. dog·fought, dog·fight·ing, dog·fights

v.intr.

1. To arrange illegal dogfights.

2. To engage in a dogfight.

v.tr.

To engage in a dogfight with.

dog′fight′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

dogfight

(ˈdɒɡˌfaɪt)

1. (Military) close quarters combat between fighter aircraft

2. any rough violent fight

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

dog•fight

(ˈdɔgˌfaɪt, ˈdɒg-)

n., v. -fought, -fight•ing. n.

1. a violent fight between dogs.

2. combat between enemy aircraft.

3. any rough-and-tumble physical battle.

v.t.

4. to engage in a dogfight with.

v.i.

5. to engage in a dogfight.

[1650–60]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	dogfight - a fiercely disputed contest; "their rancor dated from a political dogfight between them"; "a real dogfight for third place"; "a prolonged dogfight over their rival bids for the contract" contest, competition - an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants
	2.	dogfight - disorderly fighting rough-and-tumble, scuffle, tussle, hassle fighting, combat, fight, scrap - the act of fighting; any contest or struggle; "a fight broke out at the hockey game"; "there was fighting in the streets"; "the unhappy couple got into a terrible scrap"
	3.	dogfight - an aerial engagement between fighter planes battle, engagement, fight, conflict - a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war; "Grant won a decisive victory in the battle of Chickamauga"; "he lost his romantic ideas about war when he got into a real engagement"
	4.	dogfight - a violent fight between dogs (sometimes organized illegally for entertainment and gambling) fighting, combat, fight, scrap - the act of fighting; any contest or struggle; "a fight broke out at the hockey game"; "there was fighting in the streets"; "the unhappy couple got into a terrible scrap"
Verb	1.	dogfight - arrange for an illegal dogfight stage, arrange - plan, organize, and carry out (an event); "the neighboring tribe staged an invasion"
	2.	dogfight - engage in an aerial battle with another fighter plane battle, combat - battle or contend against in or as if in a battle; "The Kurds are combating Iraqi troops in Northern Iraq"; "We must combat the prejudices against other races"; "they battled over the budget"

Translations

dogfight

[ˈdɒgfaɪt] N (Aer) → combate m aéreo (reñido y confuso) (= squabble) → trifulca f, refriega f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

dogfight

dog fight [ˈdɒgfaɪt] n

(= struggle) (between competitors, organizations) → bagarre f

(between planes) → combat m entre avions de chasse

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

dogfight

[ˈdɒgˌfaɪt] n

a. (planes) → combattimento ravvicinato fra aerei da caccia

b. (dogs) → combattimento fra cani

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

References in classic literature ?

It was the biggest clubhouse, and the biggest club, in all Chicago; and they had prizefights every now and then, and cockfights and even dogfights. The policemen in the district all belonged to the league, and instead of suppressing the fights, they sold tickets for them.

View in context

Summary: New Delhi [India], July 31 (ANI): Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman who famously shot down a PAF F-16 fighter jet while piloting a vintage MiG-21 Bison during a dogfight in February this year features in the mobile gaming application launched by Indian Air Force (IAF).

Proud, dependable and fearless: Abhinandan inspired character features in new game launched by IAF

Kings brace for dogfight vs Hotshots or Beermen !-- -- Olmin Leyba (The Philippine Star) - July 16, 2019 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines After taking the No.

Kings brace for dogfight vs Hotshots or Beermen

An announcer riles up the audience before a dogfight in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan Image Credit: NYT

Despite criticism, dogfights in Afghanistan remain popular

WASHINGTON -- The United States government has declined to share with India information on the use of F-16 fighter jets by the Pakistan Air Force during a recent dogfight, the Indian media reported on Sunday.

US refuses to share data on F-16s with India

The detectives then contacted Murray through social media and convinced him to arrange a dogfight. Detectives then confirmed the pit bull attacking the white dog in the video belonged to the accused and obtained a search warrant for Murray's home.

Man Trained Pit Bulls To Fight, Arrested

India's air force presented on Monday what it called 'irrefutable evidence' that it had downed a Pakistan fighter jet in February during a dogfight over the skies in the disputed region of Kashmir.

Pakistan rejects fresh Indian claim IAF downed PAF jet

The findings directly contradict the account of Indian Air Force officials, who said Indian air force shot down a Pakistani F-16 in recent dogfight.

US rejects Indian claim of downing Pakistani F-16

And Hotshots' coach Chito Victolero calls Game 1 'the start of a dogfight.'

Magnolia, Alaska start 'dogfight' of a series

CORK'S Alan Cadogan reckons Sunday's relegation showdown with Waterford will be 'dogfight'.

Cadog day afternoon

THE Premier League relegation dogfight remains wide open - and, despite their uplifting victory over Manchester United earlier this month, Newcastle United remain very much embroiled in it.