attack

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: onslaughtonsetonrushfireflakflackblastapproachplan of attackattempttone-beginningassail

WordNet 3.0

Noun (9)

  1. (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)“the attack began at dawn”Synonyms: onslaughtonsetonrush
  2. an offensive move in a sport or game“they won the game with a 10-hit attack in the 9th inning”
  3. intense adverse criticism“Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party”“the government has come under attack”“don't give me any flak”Synonyms: fireflakflackblast
  4. 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”“an attack on inflation”“his plan of attack was misguided”Synonyms: approachplan of attack
  5. the act of attacking“attacks on women increased last year”“they made an attempt on his life”Synonyms: attempt
  6. a decisive manner of beginning a musical tone or phraseSynonyms: tone-beginning
  7. a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition“an attack of diarrhea”
  8. the onset of a corrosive or destructive process (as by a chemical agent)“the film was sensitive to attack by acids”“open to attack by the elements”
  9. strong criticism“he published an unexpected attack on my work”

Verb (6)

  1. launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with“Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II”“Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week”Synonyms: assail
  2. attack in speech or writing“The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker”Synonyms: roundassaillash outsnipeassault
  3. take the initiative and go on the offensive“The Serbs attacked the village at night”“The visiting team started to attack”Synonyms: aggress
  4. attack someone physically or emotionally“The mugger assaulted the woman”“Nightmares assailed him regularly”Synonyms: assailassaultset on
  5. set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task“I attacked the problem as soon as I got out of bed”
  6. begin to injure“The cancer cells are attacking his liver”“Rust is attacking the metal”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Appel \Ap`pel"\, n. [F., prop., a call. See Appeal, n.] (Fencing) A tap or stamp of the foot as a warning of intent to attack; -- called also attack. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
Attack \At*tack"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attacked; p. pr. & vb. n. Attacking.] [F. attaquer, orig. another form of attacher to attack: cf. It. attacare to fasten, attack. See Attach, Tack a small nail.]

1.To fall upon with force; to assail, as with force and arms; to assault. "Attack their lines." --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

2.To assail with unfriendly speech or writing; to begin a controversy with; to attempt to overthrow or bring into disrepute, by criticism or satire; to censure; as, to attack a man, or his opinions, in a pamphlet. [1913 Webster]

3.To set to work upon, as upon a task or problem, or some object of labor or investigation. [1913 Webster]

4.To begin to affect; to begin to act upon, injuriously or destructively; to begin to decompose or waste. [1913 Webster]

On the fourth of March he was attacked by fever.— Macaulay.[1913 Webster]
Hydrofluoric acid . . . attacks the glass.— B. Stewart.[1913 Webster]

Syn: To Attack, Assail, Assault, Invade.

Usage: These words all denote a violent onset; attack being the generic term, and the others specific forms of attack. To attack is to commence the onset; to assail is to make a sudden and violent attack, or to make repeated attacks; to assault (literally, to leap upon) is to attack physically by a had-to-hand approach or by unlawful and insulting violence; to invade is to enter by force on what belongs to another. Thus, a person may attack by offering violence of any kind; he may assail by means of missile weapons; he may assault by direct personal violence; a king may invade by marching an army into a country. Figuratively, we may say, men attack with argument or satire; they assail with abuse or reproaches; they may be assaulted by severe temptations; the rights of the people may be invaded by the encroachments of the crown. [1913 Webster]

Attack \At*tack"\, v. i. To make an onset or attack. [1913 Webster]
Attack \At*tack"\, n. [Cf. F. attaque.]

1.The act of attacking, or falling on with force or violence; an onset; an assault; -- opposed to defense. [1913 Webster]

2.An assault upon one's feelings or reputation with unfriendly or bitter words. [1913 Webster]

3.A setting to work upon some task, etc. [1913 Webster]

4.An access of disease; a fit of sickness. [1913 Webster]

5.The beginning of corrosive, decomposing, or destructive action, by a chemical agent. [1913 Webster]

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