attack

verb

at·tack | \ ə-ˈtak

attacked; attacking; attacks

Definition of attack

(Entry 1 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to set upon or work against forcefully attack an enemy fortification

2 : to assail with unfriendly or bitter words a politician verbally attacked by critics

3 : to begin to affect or to act on injuriously plants attacked by aphids

4a : to set to work on attack a problem

b : to begin to eat (food) eagerly At the table he attacked his meal with such singleminded ferocity as to be, as Boswell put it, disgusting to those whose sensations were delicate.— Donald R. DeGlopper

5 chess : to threaten (a piece) with immediate capture

intransitive verb

: to make an attack They were unprepared when the enemy attacked.

attack

noun

plural attacks

Definition of attack (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : the act of attacking with physical force or unfriendly words : assault the victim of a knife attack a verbal attack

2 : a belligerent or antagonistic action launched an attack against his political opponents

3a : a fit of sickness especially : an active episode of a chronic or recurrent disease an attack of bronchitis

b : a period of being strongly affected by something (such as a desire or mood) an attack of the jitters

c : an aggressive attempt to take or extend a lead over others in a race (such as a bicycle race) … he crushed his rivals in the first mountain stages by going on relatively long solo attacks.— Samuel Abt

4a : an offensive or scoring action won the game with an 8-hit attack

b : offensive players or the positions taken up by them

5 : the setting to work on some undertaking made a new attack on the problem a new plan of attack

6 : the beginning of destructive action (as by a chemical agent)

7 music : the act or manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase

on the attack

: making an attack The soldiers were on the attack. —often used in the phrase go on the attack with the meaning "to begin attacking" Last week he challenged Bradley to debate him and went on the attack, accusing his challenger of "disloyalty" to the party …— Matt Bai

under attack

: in the process of being attacked soldiers under attack a politician who is under attack from his opponents —often used in the phrase come under attack with the meaning "to begin being attacked" a theory that has recent come under attack

attack

Definition of attack

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