attack

at·tack  (-tk)

v. at·tacked, at·tack·ing, at·tacks

v.tr.

1. To set upon with violent force.

2. To criticize strongly or in a hostile manner.

3. To start work on with purpose and vigor: attack a problem.

4. To begin to affect harmfully: a disease that attacks the central nervous system.

v.intr.

To make an attack; launch an assault: The enemy attacked during the night.

n.

1. The act or an instance of attacking; an assault.

2. An expression of strong criticism; hostile comment: vicious attacks in all the newspapers.

3. Sports

a. An offensive action in a sport or game.

b. The players executing such an action.

4.

a. The initial movement in a task or undertaking: made an optimistic attack on the pile of paperwork.

b. A method or procedure: Our attack on this project will have two phases.

5. An episode or onset of a disease, especially an occurrence of a chronic disease: an asthma attack.

6. The experience or beginning of a feeling, need, or desire: an attack of hunger; an attack of melancholy.

7.

a. Music The beginning or manner of beginning a piece, passage, or tone.

b. Decisiveness and clarity in artistic expression: a careful performance, but one lacking the rigorous attack the work demands.

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[French attaquer, from Old French, from Old Italian *estaccare, of Germanic origin.]

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at·tacker n.

Synonyms: attack, bombard, assail, storm, assault, beset
These verbs mean to set upon, physically or figuratively. Attack applies to offensive action, especially to the onset of planned aggression: The commandos attacked the outpost at dawn.
Bombard suggests showering with bombs or shells (The warplanes bombarded the town) or with words (The celebrity was bombarded with invitations). Assail implies repeated attacks: Critics assailed the author's second novel.
Storm refers to a sudden, sweeping attempt to achieve a victory: "After triumphantly storming the country, [the President] is obliged to storm Capitol Hill" (The Economist).
Assault usually implies sudden, intense violence: Muggers often assault their victims on dark streets.
Beset suggests beleaguerment from all sides: The fox was beset by hunters and hounds.

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attack [əˈtæk]

vb

1. to launch a physical assault (against) with or without weapons; begin hostilities (with)

2. (General Sporting Terms) (intr) to take the initiative in a game, sport, etc. after a few minutes, the team began to attack

3. (tr) to direct hostile words or writings at; criticize or abuse vehemently

4. (tr) to turn one's mind or energies vigorously to (a job, problem, etc.)

5. (tr) to begin to injure or affect adversely; corrode, corrupt, or infect rust attacked the metal

6. (tr) to attempt to rape

n

1. the act or an instance of attacking

2. strong criticism or abuse an unjustified attack on someone's reputation

3. (General Sporting Terms) an offensive move in a game, sport, etc.

4. commencement of a task, etc.

5. (Medicine / Pathology) any sudden and usually severe manifestation of a disease or disorder a heart attack an attack of indigestion

(General Sporting Terms)

the attack Ball games the players in a team whose main role is to attack the opponents' goal or territory

7. (Music, other) Music decisiveness in beginning a passage, movement, or piece

8. (Music, other) Music the speed with which a note reaches its maximum volume

9. an attempted rape

[from French attaquer, from Old Italian attaccare to attack, attach, from estaccare to attach, from stacca stake¹; compare attach]

attackable  adj

attacker  n

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	attack - (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons); "the attack began at dawn" onrush, onset, onslaught military operation, operation - activity by a military or naval force (as a maneuver or campaign); "it was a joint operation of the navy and air force" ground attack - an attack by ground troops assault - close fighting during the culmination of a military attack charge - an impetuous rush toward someone or something; "the wrestler's charge carried him past his adversary"; "the battle began with a cavalry charge" banzai attack, banzai charge - a mass attack of troops without concern for casualties; originated by Japanese who accompanied it with yells of `banzai' diversionary attack, diversion - an attack calculated to draw enemy defense away from the point of the principal attack penetration, incursion - an attack that penetrates into enemy territory blitzkrieg, blitz - a swift and violent military offensive with intensive aerial bombardment strike - an attack that is intended to seize or inflict damage on or destroy an objective; "the strike was scheduled to begin at dawn" counterattack, countermove - an attack by a defending force against an attacking enemy force in order to regain lost ground or cut off enemy advance units etc. bombing, bombardment - an attack by dropping bombs firing, fire - the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy; "hold your fire until you can see the whites of their eyes"; "they retreated in the face of withering enemy fire" strafe - an attack of machine-gun fire or cannon fire from a low flying airplane; "the next morning they carried out a strafe of enemy airfields" coup de main, surprise attack - an attack without warning armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker"
	2.	attack - an offensive move in a sport or game; "they won the game with a 10-hit attack in the 9th inning" turn, play - (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession; "it is my turn"; "it is still my play" counterplay, counterattack - (chess) an attack that is intended to counter the opponent's advantage in another part of the board
	3.	attack - intense adverse criticism; "Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party"; "the government has come under attack"; "don't give me any flak" flack, flak, blast, fire criticism, unfavorable judgment - disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings; "the senator received severe criticism from his opponent"
	4.	attack - 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" approach, plan of attack conceptualization, formulation, conceptualisation - inventing or contriving an idea or explanation and formulating it mentally avenue - a line of approach; "they explored every avenue they could think of"; "it promises to open new avenues to understanding"
	5.	attack - the act of attacking; "attacks on women increased last year"; "they made an attempt on his life" attempt crime, criminal offence, criminal offense, law-breaking, offense, offence - (criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act; "a long record of crimes" assault - a threatened or attempted physical attack by someone who appears to be able to cause bodily harm if not stopped
	6.	attack - a decisive manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase tone-beginning commencement, start, beginning - the act of starting something; "he was responsible for the beginning of negotiations"
	7.	attack - a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition; "an attack of diarrhea" affliction - a cause of great suffering and distress anxiety attack - a sudden acute episode of intense anxiety and feelings of panic flare - a sudden recurrence or worsening of symptoms; "a colitis flare"; "infection can cause a lupus flare" ictus, raptus, seizure - a sudden occurrence (or recurrence) of a disease; "he suffered an epileptic seizure" touch, spot - a slight attack of illness; "he has a touch of rheumatism" apoplexy, cerebrovascular accident, CVA, stroke - a sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain convulsion, paroxysm, fit - a sudden uncontrollable attack; "a paroxysm of giggling"; "a fit of coughing"; "convulsions of laughter" hysterics - an attack of hysteria occlusion - closure or blockage (as of a blood vessel) heart attack - a sudden severe instance of abnormal heart function
	8.	attack - 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" degeneration, devolution - the process of declining from a higher to a lower level of effective power or vitality or essential quality
	9.	attack - strong criticism; "he published an unexpected attack on my work" aspersion, calumny, defamation, denigration, slander - an abusive attack on a person's character or good name criticism, unfavorable judgment - disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings; "the senator received severe criticism from his opponent"
Verb	1.	attack - 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" assail fight, struggle, contend - be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight; "the tribesmen fought each other"; "Siblings are always fighting"; "Militant groups are contending for control of the country" aggress, attack - take the initiative and go on the offensive; "The Serbs attacked the village at night"; "The visiting team started to attack" submarine - attack by submarine; "The Germans submarined the Allies" pelt, pepper - attack and bombard with or as if with missiles; "pelt the speaker with questions" strike, hit - make a strategic, offensive, assault against an enemy, opponent, or a target; "The Germans struck Poland on Sept. 1, 1939"; "We must strike the enemy's oil fields"; "in the fifth inning, the Giants struck, sending three runners home to win the game 5 to 2" counterattack, counterstrike - make a counterattack gas - attack with gas; subject to gas fumes; "The despot gassed the rebellious tribes" surprise, storm - attack by storm; attack suddenly blitz - attack suddenly and without warning; "Hitler blitzed Poland" invade, occupy - march aggressively into another's territory by military force for the purposes of conquest and occupation; "Hitler invaded Poland on September 1, 1939" besiege, circumvent, hem in, beleaguer, surround - surround so as to force to give up; "The Turks besieged Vienna" bomb, bombard - throw bombs at or attack with bombs; "The Americans bombed Dresden" strafe - attack with machine guns or cannon fire from a low-flying plane; "civilians were strafed in an effort to force the country's surrender" cannonade - attack with cannons or artillery torpedo - attack or hit with torpedoes raid, bust - search without warning, make a sudden surprise attack on; "The police raided the crack house" defend - be on the defensive; act against an attack
	2.	attack - attack in speech or writing; "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker" lash out, assail, assault, snipe, round criticise, criticize, pick apart, knock - find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws; "The paper criticized the new movie"; "Don't knock the food--it's free" blackguard, clapperclaw, abuse, shout - use foul or abusive language towards; "The actress abused the policeman who gave her a parking ticket"; "The angry mother shouted at the teacher" claw - attack as if with claws; "The politician clawed his rival" vitriol - subject to bitter verbal abuse rip - criticize or abuse strongly and violently; "The candidate ripped into his opponent mercilessly" whang - attack forcefully; "whang away at the school reform plan" barrage, bombard - address with continuously or persistently, as if with a barrage; "The speaker was barraged by an angry audience"; "The governor was bombarded with requests to grant a pardon to the convicted killer" scald, blister, whip - subject to harsh criticism; "The Senator blistered the administration in his speech on Friday"; "the professor scaled the students"; "your invectives scorched the community" rubbish - attack strongly
	3.	attack - take the initiative and go on the offensive; "The Serbs attacked the village at night"; "The visiting team started to attack" aggress check - place into check; "He checked my kings" fork - place under attack with one's own pieces, of two enemy pieces attack, assail - 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" harass - exhaust by attacking repeatedly; "harass the enemy" pin - immobilize a piece tackle - seize and throw down an opponent player, who usually carries the ball act, move - perform an action, or work out or perform (an action); "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel"
	4.	attack - attack someone physically or emotionally; "The mugger assaulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him regularly" assail, assault, set on bait - attack with dogs or set dogs upon sic, set - urge to attack someone; "The owner sicked his dogs on the intruders"; "the shaman sics sorcerers on the evil spirits" bulldog - attack viciously and ferociously rush - attack suddenly blindside - attack or hit on or from the side where the attacked person's view is obstructed savage - attack brutally and fiercely reassail - assail again; "Her old fears reassailed her" jump - make a sudden physical attack on; "The muggers jumped the woman in the fur coat" set upon, beset - assail or attack on all sides: "The zebra was beset by leopards" rape, ravish, assault, dishonor, dishonour, outrage, violate - force (someone) to have sex against their will; "The woman was raped on her way home at night" desecrate, outrage, profane, violate - violate the sacred character of a place or language; "desecrate a cemetery"; "violate the sanctity of the church"; "profane the name of God" molest - harass or assault sexually; make indecent advances to
	5.	attack - set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task; "I attacked the problem as soon as I got out of bed" begin, commence, set out, start, start out, set about, get down, get - take the first step or steps in carrying out an action; "We began working at dawn"; "Who will start?"; "Get working as soon as the sun rises!"; "The first tourists began to arrive in Cambodia"; "He began early in the day"; "Let's get down to work now"
	6.	attack - begin to injure; "The cancer cells are attacking his liver"; "Rust is attacking the metal" affect - act physically on; have an effect upon; "the medicine affects my heart rate"

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attack

verb

1. assault, strike (at), mug, set about, ambush, assail, tear into, fall upon, set upon, lay into (informal) He bundled her into a hallway and brutally attacked her.
assault support, protect, guard, defend, withdraw, sustain, retreat

2. invade, occupy, raid, infringe, charge, rush, storm, encroach The infantry's aim was to slow attacking forces.

3. criticize, blame, abuse, blast, pan (informal), condemn, knock (informal), slam (slang), flame (informal), put down, slate (informal), have a go (at) (informal), censure, malign, berate, disparage, revile, vilify, tear into (informal), slag off (Brit. slang), diss (slang, chiefly U.S.), 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 He publicly attacked the people who've been calling for secret ballot.

4. infect, affect, poison, contaminate, pollute, touch, blight, taint, spread to or among The virus seems to have attacked his throat.

5. 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 Any attempt to attack the problem will have to deal with these issues.

noun

1. assault, charge, campaign, strike, rush, raid, invasion, offensive, aggression, blitz, onset, onslaught, foray, incursion, inroad a campaign of air attacks on strategic targets
assault support, defence, withdrawal, retreat

2. criticism, panning (informal), slating (informal), censure, disapproval, slagging (slang), abuse, knocking (informal), bad press, vilification, denigration, calumny, character assassination, sideswipe, disparagement, impugnment He launched an attack on businesses for failing to invest.

3. infection, poison, pollution, contamination, contagion, septicity The body is open to attack from other infections.

4. bout, fit, access, spell, stroke, seizure, spasm, convulsion, paroxysm It brought on an attack of asthma.

Proverbs
"Attack is the best form of defence"

Translations

attack [əˈtæk]

A. N

1. (Mil, Sport, fig) → ataque m (on a, contra, sobre) (= assault) → atentado m, agresión f
an attack on sb's life → un atentado contra la vida de algn
an attack on the security of the state → un atentado contra la seguridad del estado
to launch an attack (Mil, fig) → lanzar un ataque
to leave o.s. open to attack → dejarse expuesto a un ataque
to return to the attack → volver al ataque
surprise attack → ataque por sorpresa
to be/come under attack → ser atacado
attack is the best form of defence → la mejor defensa es en el ataque

2. (Med) (gen) → ataque m; (= fit) → acceso m, crisis f inv
an attack of pneumonia → una pulmonía
an attack of nerves → un ataque de nervios, una crisis nerviosa
see also heart

B. VT

1. (Mil, Sport, Med, fig) → atacar; (= assault) → agredir; [bull etc] → embestir
it attacks the liver → ataca al hígado
they mercilessly attacked his Marxist approach → atacaron despiadadamente su enfoque marxista

2. (= tackle) [+ job, problem] → enfrentarse con; (= combat) → combatir
we must attack poverty → debemos combatir la pobreza

3. (Chem) → atacar

C. VI → atacar

D. CPD attack dog N → perro m de presa

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attack [əˈtæk]

vt

(= assault) [+ person] → attaquer
The dog attacked her → Le chien l'a attaquée.
to attack sb with sth → attaquer qn avec qch

(= attempt) [+ task, problem] → s'attaquer Ã

(MILITARY) → attaquer, assaillir

(= criticize) → attaquer

(SPORT) → attaquer

vi (MILITARY) → attaquer

(SPORT) → attaquer

n

(= assault) [person] → attaque f
to come under attack → se trouver en butte aux attaques, être attaqué(e)
an attack on sb → une attaque contre qn

(MILITARY) → attaque f, assaut m
to launch an attack → lancer l'assaut

(= criticism) → attaque f
to come under attack → se trouver en butte aux attaques, se trouver en butte aux critiques
to launch an attack → lancer une attaque
to launch an attack on sb/sth → s'attaquer à qn/qch

(SPORT) → attaque f

[illness] → crise f
asthma attack → crise f d'asthme heart attack

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attack

n

(Mil, Sport, fig) → Angriff m (→ on auf +acc); there have been two attacks on his life → es wurden bereits zwei Anschläge auf sein Leben gemacht or verübt; to be under attack → angegriffen werden; (fig also) → unter Beschuss stehen; to go on to the attack → zum Angriff übergehen; to return to the attack → wieder zum Angriff übergehen; to launch an attack → einen Angriff vortragen or machen (→ on auf +acc); (on sb’s character) → angreifen (→ on +acc); attack is the best form of defence (Brit) or defense (US) → Angriff ist die beste Verteidigung; to leave oneself open to attack → Angriffsflächen bieten

(Med etc) → Anfall m; an attack of fever → ein Fieberanfall m; to have an attack of nerves → plötzlich Nerven bekommen

vt

(Mil, Sport, fig) → angreifen; (from ambush, in robbery etc) → überfallen

(= tackle) task, problem, sonata → in Angriff nehmen

(Med, illness) → befallen

vi → angreifen; an attacking side → eine angriffsfreudige or offensive Mannschaft; ready to attack → zum Angriff bereit

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attack [əˈtæk]

1. n

a. (Mil) (fig) → attacco; (on individual) → aggressione f
surprise attack → attacco di sorpresa
attack on sb's life → attentato alla vita di qn
to be under attack (from) → essere attaccato/a (da)
to launch an attack (on) (Mil, Sport, fig) → sferrare un attacco (a)

b. (Med) → attacco, accesso

2. vt (Mil, Med) (fig) → attaccare; (person) → aggredire, assalire; (tackle, job, problem) → affrontare

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attack

v attack [əˈtӕk]

1 to make a sudden, violent attempt to hurt or damage He attacked me with a knife; The village was attacked from the air. aanval يُهاجِم нападам napadnout angribe angreifen επιτίθεμαι atacar ründama حمله کردن hyökätä attaquer לִתְקוֹף धावा बोलना napad megtámad menyerang ráðast á attaccare 襲う 공격하다 atakuoti, pulti uzbrukt serang aanvallen angripe atakować atacar a ataca нападать napadnúť napasti napasti attackera โจมตี saldırmak, hücum etmek 攻擊 нападати; атакувати حملہ کرنا tấn công 攻击

2 to speak or write against The Prime Minister's policy was attacked in the newspapers. aanval يَتَهَجَّم عَلى обвинявам napadnout angribe; kritisere angreifen επιτίθεμαι φραστικά atacar ründama انتقاد کردن؛ مورد حمله قرار دادن vastustaa attaquer לְהַתקִיף प्रहार करना napasti (meg)támad menyerang ráðast á attaccare 非難する 비난하다 už(si)pulti uzbrukt; kritizēt kritik aanvallen angripe, kritisere atakować atacar a ataca критиковать napadnúť kritizirati napasti attackera วิจารณ์ çatmak, saldırmak 抨擊 нападати ہدف تنقید بنانا chỉ trích 抨击

3 (in games) to attempt to score a goal. aanval يَهْجُم (في الرِياضَه) атакувам zaútočit angribe angreifen κάνω επίθεση με σκοπό να σκοράρω atacar peale tungima حمله کردن hyökätä attaquer לִתְקוֹף हमला बोलना napasti támad menyerang sækja attaccare 攻める 정력적으로 달려들다 pereiti į puolimą uzbrukt serangan aanvallen angripe atakować atacar a ata­ca атаковать zaútočiť napadati osvojiti anfalla บุก hücum etmek 進攻 атакувати پیش قدمی کرنا ، دھاوا بولنا tấn công 进攻

4 to make a vigorous start on It's time we attacked that pile of work. mee begin يَشْرَع، يَبْدأ العَمَل بِقُوَّه залавям се pustit se do give sig i kast med; tage fat på in Angriff nehmen καταπιάνομαι lanzarse (a) kallale asuma آغاز کردن؛ مبادرت کردن käydä kimppuun s'attaquer à לְהַתקִיף सख्त प्रयास करना navaliti nekilát memulai takast á við iniziare, affrontare 勢いよく始める 착수하다 imtis, griebtis ķerties pie (kāda darba, uzdevuma) mula dengan penuh semangat aanpakken gå løs på, ta fatt på zabierać się za atirar-se a a se pune pe энергично браться pustiť sa do spoprijeti se navaliti attackera, ta itu med เริ่มทำอย่างกระตือรือร้น girişmek, yapmaya koyulmak 積極著手處理 братися енергійно پوری توانائی سے کرنا bắt đầu giải quyết （干劲十足地）投入

n

1 an act or the action of attacking The brutal attack killed the old man; They made an air attack on the town. aanval هُجوم атака přepadení, útok, nálet overfald; angreb der Angriff επίθεση ataque rünnak حمله hyökkäys attaque תקִיפָה आक्रमण napad támadás serangan árás attacco 攻撃 공격 ataka, antpuolis uzbrukums serangan aanval angrep, overfall atak ataque atac нападение prepad, útok napad napad attack, överfall การโจมตี saldırı, hücum 攻擊 напад; атака حملہ ، دھاوا sự tấn công 攻击

2 a sudden bout of illness heart attack; an attack of 'flu. aanval نَوبَه مَرَضِيَّه(قلب) удар záchvat anfald der Anfall κρίση, προσβολή (για αρρώστια) ataque atakk, hoog حمله؛ بروز äkillinen sairastuminen crise, attaque הַתקַפָה हमला napadaj roham (betegségé) serangan kast, áfall attacco 発病 발병 priepuolis, susirgimas lēkme serangan aanval anfall; (hjerte)infarkt atak ataque criză, atac приступ záchvat napad napad attack, anfall การเจ็บป่วยอย่างกะทันหัน kriz, nöbet 突然發作 приступ хвороби بیماری کا حملہ cơn bột phát 发作

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attack → هجوم, يهاجم útok, zaútočit angreb, angribe angreifen, Angriff επίθεση, επιτίθεμαι atacar, ataque hyökätä, hyökkäys attaque, attaquer napad, napasti attaccare, attacco 攻撃, 攻撃する ...을 공격하다, 공격 aanval, aanvallen angrep, angripe napad, zaatakować atacar, ataque атака, атаковать angrepp, angripa โจมตี, การโจมตี saldırı, saldırmak sự tấn công, tấn công 攻击, 进攻