naval battle
2
4.0
- noun
- /ˈneɪvəl ˈbætəl/
:
batalla naval
- During the naval battle, both sides suffered heavy losses as they fought for control of the seas.
- the naval battle of the war
- the biggest naval battle
- the last naval battle
But they did say that that was the most impressive naval battle since the Spanish Armada was around, which you won't get, but it was, you know, good fun.
- But they did say that that was the most impressive naval battle since the Spanish Armada was around, which you won't get, but it was, you know, good fun.
Examples
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The naval battle between the British and French fleets was a significant event in history.
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As for information from the ongoing naval battle, it is sketchy at best.
Fiction book (1994) -
ROME, November 1, 2012 -- A naval battle in the darkness of the storm.
Blog text (20) -
Perhaps one of the largest naval battles in history saw Rome as the victor.
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My brother was in the war of Leyte Gulf, the longest naval battle in history.
Blog text (11) -
It was the first great naval battle of employing fully ironclad steam powered vessels.
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The imperial eunuch, Admiral Ying-min, had just lost an important naval battle because there were not enough ships and ammunition.
Fiction book (2000) -
To the north and west were the Japanese-occupied Philippines; to the southeast, the Coral Sea, where one of the war's pivotal naval battles was fought.
Academic text (2002) -
British warships win the first naval battle of the war at Heligoland bite, sinking three German cruisers.
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British warships win the first naval battle of the war at Heligoland Bait, sinking three German cruisers.
How Large
2
4.0
- Specialized
61
7.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a battle fought at sea between opposing naval fleets' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'naval' (related to the navy/sea forces) with 'battle' (a fight). This adjective+noun composition is a regular, cross-linguistically common pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Naval battle joins naval (about ships) and battle (a fight); imagine fleets of ships firing and crashing on the open sea. That's why naval battle means 'a battle fought at sea'.