The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word BATTLE
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
B
A
T
T
L
E
More clues leading to the result BATTLE
- Domineering woman to fight the sack?
- Free tablet in Waterloo?
- Nerve to drop ball for a contest
- Struggle to keep dry in a load of hay?
- Bundle must keep dry, as must powder in this?
- Talked oddly after hit in fight
- Barista’s first latte order causes row
- British PM ultimately wanting fight
- Abstainer surrounded by British booze? It’s a struggle!
- ‘Fight Club’ title, losing it
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "contest" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case contest = battle.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does BATTLE mean?
BATTLE noun- A contest, a struggle.
- A general action, fight, or encounter, in which all the divisions of an army are or may be engaged; a combat, an engagement.
- A division of an army; a battalion.
- The main body of an army, as distinct from the vanguard and rear; the battalia.
- To join in battle; to contend in fight
- To fight or struggle; to enter into a battle with.
- To nourish; feed.
- To render (for example soil) fertile or fruitful
- Improving; nutritious; fattening.
- Fertile; fruitful.