Attack Word Meaning

late 16th century (as verb): from French attaquer (verb), from Italian attaccare ‘join battle’, originally ‘attach, fasten’, of uncertain origin; perhaps from French attacher (see attach), or perhaps from a-, intensifying prefix + obsolete taccare ‘put a mark on’, from tacca ‘stain, spot’

take aggressive military action against (a place or enemy forces) with weapons or armed force

take military action against

• in February the Germans attacked Verdun
• the terrorists did not attack again until March

criticize or oppose fiercely and publicly

publicly criticize

• he attacked the government's defence policy

begin to deal with (a problem or task) in a determined and vigorous way

deal with vigorously

• a plan of action to attack unemployment

(in sport) make a forceful attempt to score a goal or point or otherwise gain an advantage against an opposing team or player

attempt to score goal etc.

• Crystal Palace attacked swiftly down the left

(of a reagent or reactive species) approach and interact with (an atom, group, or bond in a molecule), thereby breaking a bond or forming a new bond

approach and interact with atom

• the nucleophile attacks the epoxide from the opposite side of the ring to the oxygen

an aggressive and violent act against a person or place

aggressive or violent act

• he was killed in an attack on a checkpoint
• three classrooms were gutted in the arson attack
• the north-western suburbs came under attack in the latest fighting

an instance of fierce public criticism or opposition

public criticism

• he launched a stinging attack on the Prime Minister

a sudden short bout of an illness or stress

bout of illness

• an attack of nausea
• an asthma attack

(in sport) an aggressive attempt to score a goal or point or otherwise gain an advantage

(in sport) aggressive attempt to score goal etc.

• a Cardiff attack broke down inside Llanelli's 22
• United hardly did a thing in attack