attack

/ətˈæk/ · 2 syllables

Meaning

noun

(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
“the attack began at dawn”
an offensive move in a sport or game
“they won the game with a 10-hit attack in the 9th inning”
intense adverse criticism
“Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party”
ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation
“his approach to every problem is to draw up a list of pros and cons”
the act of attacking
“attacks on women increased last year”
a decisive manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase
a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition
“an attack of diarrhea”
the onset of a corrosive or destructive process (as by a chemical agent)
“the film was sensitive to attack by acids”
strong criticism
“he published an unexpected attack on my work”

verb

launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
“Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II”
attack in speech or writing
“The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker”
take the initiative and go on the offensive
“The Serbs attacked the village at night”
attack someone physically or emotionally
“The mugger assaulted the woman”
set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task
“I attacked the problem as soon as I got out of bed”
begin to injure
“The cancer cells are attacking his liver”

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