compete (with),vie (with),rival,contest这组词的一般含义是互相竞争。
compete (名词为 competition)的含义仅仅是为了争得名次、奖品，并不含有将对手征服的意思。
The children compete against each other to reach the other end of the pool.
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《I Am a Rock》

(P. Simon, 1965)Simon and Garfunkel

A winter's day
In a deep and dark December;
I am alone,
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow...