1. noun /ˈraɪvəl/
a) A competitor (person, team, company, etc.) who is well known to another and has similar skills and achievements. Defeating a rival may be a primary or necessary goal of a competitor.
Chris is my biggest rival in the 400m.
b) Someone or something with similar claims of quality or distinction as another.
As a social historian, he has no rival.
2. verb /ˈraɪvəl/
b) To equal to or surpass another.
Wikipedia foundation.