Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Language: Latin
Origin: rivalis 'someone who uses the same stream as another, rival in love', from rivus 'stream'

rival

1 noun
     
ri‧val1 [countable]
1 a person, group, or organization that you compete with in sport, business, a fight etc [= competitor]:
This gives the company a competitive advantage over its rivals.
rival for
his chief rival for the job
He finished 39 seconds ahead of his main rival.
She was 2 minutes faster than her nearest rival.
a game against their old rivals, Manchester United
They still remain bitter rivals (=hate each other).
Their sales have now overtaken those of their arch-rival (=main or strongest rival).
rival company/firm/team etc
Sheena left her job and went to work for a rival company.
2 one of a group of things that people can choose between:
The newest model has several advantages over its rivals.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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