attack (əˈtæk
)
Definitions
verb
- to launch a physical assault (against) with or without weapons; begin hostilities (with)
- (intr) to take the initiative in a game, sport, etc ⇒
after a few minutes, the team began to attack
- (tr) to direct hostile words or writings at; criticize or abuse vehemently
- (tr) to turn one's mind or energies vigorously to (a job, problem, etc)
- (tr) to begin to injure or affect adversely; corrode, corrupt, or infect ⇒
rust attacked the metal
- (tr) to attempt to rape
noun
- the act or an instance of attacking
- strong criticism or abuse ⇒
an unjustified attack on someone's reputation
- an offensive move in a game, sport, etc
- commencement of a task, etc
- any sudden and usually severe manifestation of a disease or disorder ⇒
a heart attack
an attack of indigestion
- See the attack
- music decisiveness in beginning a passage, movement, or piece
- music the speed with which a note reaches its maximum volume
- an attempted rape
Alternative Forms
atˈtackable adjective atˈtacker noun atˈtacking adjectiveWord Origin
C16: from French attaquer, from Old Italian attaccare to attack, attach, from estaccare to attach, from staccastakeC16: from French from Old Italian to attack, attach, from to attach, from 1; compare ; compare attachSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
criticize,
blame,
abuse,
blast,
pan,
condemn,
knock,
slam,
flame,
put down,
slate,
have a go (at)
censure,
malign,
berate,
disparage,
revile,
vilify,
tear into,
slag off,
diss,
find fault with
impugn,
go for the jugular,
lambast(e) pick holes in
excoriate,
bite someone's head off,
snap someone's head off,
pick to pieces
=
deal with,
concentrate on
look after,
take care of,
see to,
attend to,
get to work on devote yourself to apply yourself to occupy yourself with
=
assault,
charge,
campaign,
strike,
rush,
raid,
invasion,
offensive,
aggression,
blitz,
onset,
onslaught,
foray,
incursion,
inroad,
=
criticism,
panning,
slating,
censure,
disapproval,
slagging,
abuse,
knocking,
bad press
vilification,
denigration,
calumny,
character assassination,
sideswipe,
disparagement,
impugnment,
Quotations
"Attack is the best form of defence"
Translations
- British English:
attack
An attack is the act or an instance of attacking....a campaign of air attacks on strategic targets.əˈtæk NOUN ...a campaign of air attacks on strategic targets.
- Spanish:
ataque
nm
- French:
attaque
nf
- German:
Angriff
nm
- Chinese: 攻击 n
- Arabic: هُجُوم n
- Portuguese: ataque nm
- Russian: атака nf
- Croatian: napad nm
- Czech: útok nm
- Danish: angreb nnt
- Dutch: aanval nm
- Finnish: hyökkäys n
- Greek: επίθεση nf
- Italian: attacco nm
- Japanese: 攻撃 n
- Korean: 공격 n
- Norwegian: angrep nnt
- Polish: napad nm
- Brazilian Portuguese: ataque nm
- European Spanish:
ataque
nm
- Swedish: angrepp nnt
- Thai: การโจมตี n
- Turkish: saldırı n
- Vietnamese: sự tấn công n
- British English:
attack
To attack a person or place means to try to hurt or damage them using physical violence.He was in the house when the dog attacked. He was playing outside when the dog attacked.əˈtæk VERB He was in the house when the dog attacked. He was playing outside when the dog attacked.
- Spanish:
atacar
v
- French:
attaquer
vt
- German:
angreifen
vt
- Chinese: 进攻 v
- Arabic: يُهاجِمُ vt
- Portuguese: atacar vt
- Russian: атаковать vt
- Croatian: napasti v
- Czech: zaútočit vt útočit
- Danish: angribe v
- Dutch: aanvallen vt
- Finnish: hyökätä v
- Greek: επιτίθεμαι v
- Italian: attaccare v
- Japanese: 攻撃する v
- Korean: ...을 공격하다 vt
- Norwegian: angripe v
- Polish: zaatakować vt atakować
- Brazilian Portuguese: atacar vt
- European Spanish:
atacar
v
- Swedish: angripa vt
- Thai: โจมตี vt
- Turkish: saldırmak vt
- Vietnamese: tấn công v
Usage examples
She had no idea how long had passed since the attack on Carol.
, THE LAST TEMPTATION (2002)By the time you're ready for action again, she'll attack you on your way to bed.
Maxim (2004)That took all of 10 seconds, once Vladimir Smicer lined up alongside Litmanen and Heskey in Liverpool's first attack.
Irish Times (2002)It is understood the married father-of-two suffered head injuries in an attack.
Glasgow Herald (2001)Why not, he wondered out loud one evening around the campfire, launch an attack on the Gestapo headquarters at Montluçon!
, NANCY WAKE (2002)