a call or summons to engage in any contest, as of skill, strength, etc.
2.
something that by its nature or character serves as a call to battle, contest, special effort, etc.: Space exploration offers a challenge to humankind.
3.
a call to fight, as a battle, a duel, etc.
4.
a demand to explain, justify, etc.: a challenge to the treasurer to itemize expenditures.
5.
difficulty in a job or undertaking that is stimulating to one engaged in it.
6.
Military. the demand of a sentry for identification or a countersign.
7.
Law. a formal objection to the qualifications of a particular juror, to his or her serving, or to the legality of an entire jury. Compare peremptory challenge.
8.
the assertion that a vote is invalid or that a voter is not legally qualified.
9.
Biology. the process of inducing or assessing physiological or immunological activity by exposing an organism to a specific substance.
10.
Hunting. the crying of a hound on finding a scent.
–verb (used with object)
11.
to summon to a contest of skill, strength, etc.
12.
to take exception to; call in question: to challenge the wisdom of a procedure.
13.
to demand as something due or rightful.
14.
Military. to halt and demand identification or countersign from.
15.
Law. to take formal exception to (a juror or jury).
16.
to have a claim to; invite; arouse; stimulate: a matter which challenges attention.
17.
to assert that (a vote) is invalid.
18.
to assert that (a voter) is not qualified to vote.
19.
to expose an organism to a specific substance in order to assess its physiological or immunological activity.
20.
Archaic. to lay claim to.
–verb (used without object)
21.
to make or issue a challenge.
22.
Hunting. (of hounds) to cry or give tongue on picking up the scent.
–adjective
23.
donated or given by a private, corporate, or government benefactor on condition that the recipient raise an additional specified amount from the public: a challenge grant.
[Origin: 1175–1225; ME chalenge < OF, var. of chalonge < L calumniacalumny]
A call to engage in a contest, fight, or competition: a challenge to a duel.
An act or statement of defiance; a call to confrontation: a challenge to the government's authority.
A demand for explanation or justification; a calling into question: a challenge to a theory.
A sentry's call to an unknown party for proper identification.
A test of one's abilities or resources in a demanding but stimulating undertaking: a career that offers a challenge.
A claim that a vote is invalid or that a voter is unqualified.
Law A formal objection to the inclusion of a prospective juror in a jury.
Immunology The induction or evaluation of an immune response in an organism by administration of a specific antigen to which it has been sensitized.
v.
chal·lenged, chal·leng·ing, chal·leng·es
v.
tr.
To call to engage in a contest, fight, or competition: challenged me to a game of chess.
To invite with defiance; dare: challenged him to contradict her. See Synonyms at defy.
To take exception to; call into question; dispute: a book that challenges established beliefs.
To order to halt and be identified, as by a sentry.
Law To take formal objection to (a prospective juror).
To question the qualifications of (a voter) or validity of (a vote).
To have due claim to; call for: events that challenge our attention.
To summon to action, effort, or use; stimulate: a problem that challenges the imagination.
Immunology To induce or evaluate an immune response in (an organism) by administering a specific antigen to which it has been sensitized.
v.
intr.
To make or give voice to a challenge.
To begin barking upon picking up the scent. Used of hunting dogs.
[Middle English chalenge, from Old French, from Latin calumnia, trickery, false accusation; see calumny. V., from Middle English chalengen, from Old French chalangier, from Latin calumniārī, from calumnia.]
Calling for full use of one's abilities or resources in a difficult but stimulating effort: a challenging course of study; a challenging role for an inexperienced performer.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This Main Entry: chal·lenge Function: transitive verb Inflected Forms: chal·lenged; chal·leng·ing 1: to dispute esp. as beinginvalid or unjust <counsel challenged this interpretation> 2: to question formally (as by a suit or motion) the legality or legal qualifications of <challengethe regulations>; especially: to make a challenge to (a trier of fact) <the grounds for challenging prospective jurors —W. Railroad LaFave and A. W. Scott, Junior>—compare RECUSE
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This Main Entry: challenge Function: noun 1: a calling into question; especially: a questioning of validity or legality :OBJECTION <when the challenge to the statute is in effect a challenge of this basic assumption —Kramer v.Union Free School Dist. Number 15, 395 U.S. 621 (1969)> —see also BATSON CHALLENGE 2: arequest to disqualify a trier of fact (as a jury member or judge) —compare RECUSAL, STRIKEchallenge for cause : a challenge esp. of a prospective juror based on a specific and stated cause orreasonchallenge to the array : a challenge of an entire jury that raises objections to the selection processperemptory challenge : a challenge esp. of aprospective juror that does not require a stated cause or reason
![[P]](http://cache.lexico.com/g/d/premium_mh.gif){kind=small}
Audio Help [chal-in-jing] Pronunciation Key 
