attack

 
Pronunciation: /əˈtak/

verb

[with object]
  • 1take aggressive military action against (a place or enemy forces) with weapons or armed force: in February the Germans attacked Verdun [no object]: the terrorists did not attack again until March
  • act against (someone or something) aggressively in an attempt to injure or kill: a doctor was attacked by two youths
  • (of a disease, chemical, or insect) act harmfully on: HIV is thought to attack certain cells in the brain
  • 2criticize or oppose fiercely and publicly: he attacked the government’s defence policy
  • 3begin to deal with (a problem or task) in a determined and vigorous way: a plan of action to attack unemployment
  • 4 [no object] (in sport) make a forceful attempt to score a goal or point or otherwise gain an advantage against an opposing team or player: Crystal Palace attacked swiftly down the left (as adjective attacking) Leeds showed some good attacking play
  • [with object] Chess move into or be in a position to capture (an opponent’s piece or pawn): the white queen attacks the black rook

noun

  • 1an aggressive and violent act against a person or place: he was killed in an attack on a checkpoint three classrooms were gutted in the arson attack the north-western suburbs came under attack in the latest fighting
  • [mass noun] destructive action by a disease, chemical, or insect: the tissue is open to attack by fungus
  • a determined attempt to tackle a problem or task: an attack on inflation
  • [mass noun] forceful and decisive style in performing music or another art: the sheer attack of Hendrix’s playing
  • 2an instance of fierce public criticism or opposition: he launched a stinging attack on the Prime Minister
  • 3a sudden short bout of an illness or stress: an attack of nausea an asthma attack
  • 4(in sport) an aggressive attempt to score a goal or point or otherwise gain an advantage: a Cardiff attack broke down inside Llanelli’s 22 [mass noun]: United hardly did a thing in attack
  • British the players in a team who are in the position of trying to score a goal or win points: Baxter was recalled to the attack
  • Chess a threat to capture an opponent’s piece or pawn: the move opens up an attack from the black bishop against White’s knight

Origin:

early 17th century: from French attaque (noun), attaquer (verb), from Italian attacco 'an attack', attaccare 'join battle', based on an element of Germanic origin (see attach)