an angry disagreement; argument a cause of disagreement or dispute; grievance
to engage in a disagreement or dispute; argue to find fault; complain
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
quar•rel1 /ˈkwɔrəl, ˈkwɑr-/USA pronunciation
n., v., -reled, -rel•ing or (esp. Brit.) -relled, -rel•ling.
n. [countable]
v. [no object]
quar•rel•some, adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026n. [countable]
- an angry dispute or argument:Whenever we have a quarrel we try to resolve it quickly.
- a cause of complaint:She has no quarrel with her present salary.
v. [no object]
- to disagree angrily;
argue;
squabble;
wrangle:They quarreled about sending their kids to private school. - to disagree with something said:I'd quarrel with some of the results you're predicting.
quar•rel•some, adj.
quar•rel1
(kwôr′əl, kwor′-),USA pronunciation n., v., -reled, -rel•ing or (esp. Brit.) -relled, -rel•ling.
n.
v.i.
quar′rel•er, n.
quar′rel•ing•ly, adv.
quar•rel2 (kwôr′əl, kwor′-),USA pronunciation n.
n.
- an angry dispute or altercation;
a disagreement marked by a temporary or permanent break in friendly relations. - a cause of dispute, complaint, or hostile feeling:She has no quarrel with her present salary.
v.i.
- to disagree angrily;
squabble;
wrangle. - to end a friendship as a result of a disagreement.
- to make a complaint;
find fault.
- Latin querēla, querella a complaint, derivative of querī to complain
- Old French
- Middle English querele 1300–50
quar′rel•ing•ly, adv.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged 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.See corresponding entry in Unabridged bicker, argue, brawl, fight.
quar•rel2 (kwôr′əl, kwor′-),USA pronunciation n.
- a square-headed bolt or arrow, formerly used with a crossbow.
- Building, ArchitectureAlso, quarry. a small, square or diamond-shaped pane of glass, as used in latticed windows.
- Buildingany of various tools with pyramidal heads.
- Medieval Latin quadrellus, diminutive of Latin quadrus square
- Old French
- Middle English quarel 1175–1225
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
an arrow having a four-edged head, fired from a crossbow a small square or diamond-shaped pane of glass, usually one of many in a fixed or casement window and framed with lead