Swordsmanship and Fencing. transitive. To stop, ward off, or turn aside (a weapon, blow, etc.), esp. with a countermove. Also in extended use.

transitive. Sport. To inflict severe blows on (an opponent, esp. in boxing); to strike (the ball) forcefully or frequently.

transitive. To strike, hit, beat; spec. (Boxing slang) to strike with the fist so as to break the skin or leave a visible mark. Also intransitive…

Pugilism.

absol. To strike or launch out in boxing.

transitive. slang (originally Boxing). To strike (a person) in the face; to fight, beat up, assault; to strangle. Also intransitive.

Pugilism. (transitive and intransitive) To creep close into (one's opponent) before delivering one's blow; to step in feinting and try to approach…

transitive. slang. To hit straight; to knock down; to fight. Obsolete.

Military, Boxing and Fencing. transitive. To make a feint upon. rare.

Boxing. To give a return blow while receiving or parrying the blow of an antagonist; to strike with… transitive.

(See counter, n.5 3) Hence as v. transitive and intransitive. Also figurative.

Boxing. To avoid (a punch) by moving quickly to one side. Also intransitive or absol.

transferred and figurative. Boxing. To strike (one's opponent) a swinging blow with the elbow bent (cf. hook, n.1 13b). Also absol.

transitive. Sport (chiefly Boxing). To unleash (a blow, strike, shot, etc.) forcefully. Also occasionally intransitive: to hit or strike a…

to beat a person to the punch: (Boxing) to land a blow before one's opponent does; also in extended use, to anticipate or forestall a person's speech…

transitive. Boxing. To acknowledge (spectators) by raising the hands above the head, esp. as a gesture of triumph. Also (with up): to raise (the…

Boxing. To strike (an opponent), esp. with a powerful blow. slang (originally U.S.).

(intransitive and transitive) = counter, v.1 5a 5b.