assault

verb

• make a physical attack on:he pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer she was sexually assaulted as a child
• carry out a military attack or raid on (an enemy position): they left their strong position to assault the hill
• bombard with something undesirable or unpleasant:thunder assaulted the ears

noun

• 1a physical attack:his imprisonment for an assault on the film director a sexual assault
• Law an act that threatens physical harm to a person, whether or not actual harm is done:he admitted an assault and two thefts [mass noun]:he appeared in court charged with assault
• a military attack or raid on an enemy position:troops began an assault on the city
• a strong verbal attack:an articulate assault on all forms of prejudice

• 2a concerted attempt to do something demanding:a winter assault on Mt Everest