attack
noun
1. (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
- the attack began at dawn
Similar word(s): onrush, onset, onslaught
Definition categories: act, operation
2. an offensive move in a sport or game
- they won the game with a 10-hit attack in the 9th inning
Definition categories: act, play, turn
3. intense adverse criticism
- the government has come under attack
Similar word(s): blast, fire, flack, flak
Definition categories: communication, criticism
4. ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation
- an attack on inflation
- his plan of attack was misguided
Similar word(s): approach
Definition categories: act, conceptualisation, conceptualization, formulation
5. the act of attacking
- attacks on women increased last year
Similar word(s): attempt
Definition categories: act, crime
6. a decisive manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase
Definition categories: act, beginning, commencement, start
7. a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition
- an attack of diarrhea
Definition categories: state, affliction
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
Definition categories: process, degeneration, devolution
9. strong criticism
- he published an unexpected attack on my work
Definition categories: act, criticism
Sentences with attack as a noun:
- They claimed the censorship of the article was an attack on free speech.
- The army timed their attack to coincide with the local celebrations.
- I´ve had an attack of the flu.
verb
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
Similar word(s): assail
Definition categories: competition, contend, fight, struggle
2. attack in speech or writing
- The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker
Similar word(s): assail, assault, round, snipe
Definition categories: communication, criticise, criticize, knock
3. take the initiative and go on the offensive
- The Serbs attacked the village at night
- The visiting team started to attack
Similar word(s): aggress
Definition categories: competition, act, move
4. attack someone physically or emotionally
Similar word(s): assail, assault
Definition categories: competition
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
Definition categories: change, begin, commence, get, start
6. begin to injure
- The cancer cells are attacking his liver
- Rust is attacking the metal
Definition categories: body, affect
Sentences with attack as a verb:
- This species of snake will only attack humans if it feels threatened.
- She published an article attacking the recent pay cuts.
- We´ll have dinner before we attack the biology homework.
- I attacked the meal with a hearty appetite.