n.
a person or thing competing with another for superiority or the same objective.
▸
[with neg.]
a person or thing equal to another in quality.
v.
(rivals, rivalling, rivalled; US rivals, rivaling, rivaled)
be equal or comparable to.
Derivative
- rivalrous adj.
- rivalry n.
(pl. rivalries)
.
Etymology
C16: from L. rivalis; see word history at river.