attack meaning and definition

ATTACK noun

Definition of attack (noun)

1. (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
   • "the attack began at dawn"
   • synonyms: onrush, onset, onslaught
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: blast, fire, flack, flak
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: approach, plan 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 phrase
   • synonyms: 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"

ATTACK verb

Definition of attack (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"; "Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week"
   • synonyms: assail
   • antonym: defend
2. attack in speech or writing
   • "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker"
   • synonyms: assail, assault, lash out, round, snipe
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: assail, assault, set 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"