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quarrel

 - 5 dictionary results

quar⋅rel

1  [kwawr-uhl, kwor-] noun, verb, -reled, -rel⋅ing or (especially British) -relled, -rel⋅ling.
Use quarrel in a Sentence
–noun
1. an angry dispute or altercation; a disagreement marked by a temporary or permanent break in friendly relations.
2. a cause of dispute, complaint, or hostile feeling: She has no quarrel with her present salary.
–verb (used without object)
3. to disagree angrily; squabble; wrangle.
4. to end a friendship as a result of a disagreement.
5. to make a complaint; find fault.
Origin:
1300–50; ME querele < OF < L querēla, querella a complaint, deriv. of querī to complain

Related forms:
quar⋅rel⋅er, noun
quar⋅rel⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. argument, contention, controversy, difference, fight. Quarrel, dissension refer to disagreement and conflict. Quarrel applies chiefly to a verbal disagreement between individuals or groups and is used with reference to a large variety of situations, from a slight and petty difference of opinion to a violent altercation: It was little more than a domestic quarrel. Their quarrel led to the barroom brawl. Dissension usually implies a profound disagreement and bitter conflict. It also applies chiefly to conflict within a group or to members of the same group: dissension within the union; dissension among the Democrats. 3. bicker, argue, brawl, fight.

quar⋅rel

2  [kwawr-uhl, kwor-]
–noun
1. a square-headed bolt or arrow, formerly used with a crossbow.
2. Also, quarry. a small, square or diamond-shaped pane of glass, as used in latticed windows.
3. any of various tools with pyramidal heads.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME quarel < OF < ML quadrellus, dim. of L quadrus square
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To quarrel
quar·rel 1   (kwôr'əl, kwŏr'-)   
n.  

  1. An angry dispute; an altercation.

  2. A cause of a dispute or an argument: We have no quarrel with the findings of the committee.

intr.v.   quar·reled or quar·relled, quar·rel·ing or quar·rel·ling, quar·rels

  1. To engage in a quarrel; dispute angrily. See Synonyms at argue.

  2. To disagree; differ: I quarrel with your conclusions.

  3. To find fault; complain.


[Middle English querele, from Old French, complaint, from Latin querella, querēla, from querī, to complain; see kwes- in Indo-European roots.]
quar'rel·er, quar'rel·ler n.
quar·rel 2   (kwôr'əl, kwŏr'-)   
n.  

  1. A bolt for a crossbow.

  2. A tool, such as a stonemason's chisel, that has a squared head.

  3. A small diamond-shaped or square pane of glass in a latticed window.


[Middle English quarel, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *quadrellus, diminutive of Late Latin quadrus, square, from Latin quadrum; see kwetwer- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases

quarrel

see pick a quarrel.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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