wrestle

American  

[res-uhl] / ˈrɛs əl /

verb (used without object)

wrestled, wrestling

1. to engage in wrestling.

2. to contend, as in a struggle for mastery; grapple.

   to wrestle with one's conscience.

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verb (used with object)

wrestled, wrestling

1. to contend with in wrestling.

2. to force by or as if by wrestling.

3. to throw (a calf or other animal) for branding.

noun

1. an act of or a bout at wrestling.

2. a struggle.

wrestle British  

/ ˈrɛsəl /

verb

1. to fight (another person) by holding, throwing, etc, without punching with the closed fist

2. (intr) to participate in wrestling

3. to fight with (a person, problem, or thing)

   wrestle with one's conscience

4. (tr) to move laboriously, as with wrestling movements

5. (tr) to throw (an animal) for branding

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noun

1. the act of wrestling

2. a struggle or tussle

Other Word Forms

• outwrestle verb (used with object)
• unwrestled adjective
• wrestler noun

Etymology

Origin of wrestle

before 1100; Middle English wrestlen, wrastlen (v.), Old English *wrǣstlian (compare Old English wrǣstlere wrestler), frequentative of wrǣstan to wrest; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German worstelen

Related Words

• contend
• grapple
• scuffle
• strive
• tangle
• tussle