a noisy riotous fight
"The security team struggled to restore order as the crowd descended into a chaotic melee when tickets were sold out."
A battle fought at close range; hand-to-hand combat; brawling.
"The soldiers quickly switched from archery to a brutal melee once they closed in on each other's positions."
To physically hit in close quarters, as opposed to shooting, blowing up, or other ranged means of damage. Often refers to the usage of a hand-to-hand weapon.
"The soldiers abandoned their rifles and charged into the dark alley to fight the intruders in brutal melee with batons and knives."