Attack - Definitions from Dictionary.com

18 results for: Attack

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

at·tack

Audio Help [uh-tak] Pronunciation Key

–verb (used with object)

1.	to set upon in a forceful, violent, hostile, or aggressive way, with or without a weapon; begin fighting with: He attacked him with his bare hands.

2.	to begin hostilities against; start an offensive against: to attack the enemy.

3.	to blame or abuse violently or bitterly.

4.	to direct unfavorable criticism against; criticize severely; argue with strongly: He attacked his opponent's statement.

5.	to try to destroy, esp. with verbal abuse: to attack the mayor's reputation.

6.	to set about (a task) or go to work on (a thing) vigorously: to attack housecleaning; to attack the hamburger hungrily.

7.	(of disease, destructive agencies, etc.) to begin to affect.

–verb (used without object)

8.	to make an attack; begin hostilities.

–noun

9.	the act of attacking; onslaught; assault.

10.	a military offensive against an enemy or enemy position.

11.	Pathology. seizure by disease or illness: an attack of indigestion.

12.	the beginning or initiating of any action; onset.

13.	an aggressive move in a performance or contest.

14.	the approach or manner of approach in beginning a musical phrase.

[Origin: 1590–1600; earlier atta(c)que < MF atta(c)quer < It attaccare to attack, attach

]

—Related forms

at·tack·a·ble, adjective

at·tack·er, noun

—Synonyms 1. storm, charge. Attack, assail, assault, molest all mean to set upon someone forcibly, with hostile or violent intent. Attack is the most general word and applies to a beginning of hostilities, esp. those definitely planned: to attack from ambush. Assail implies vehement, sudden, and sometimes repeated attack: to assail with weapons or with gossip. Assault almost always implies bodily violence: to assault with intent to kill. To molest is to harass, to threaten, or to assault: He was safe, and where no one could molest him. 4. censure; impugn, oppugn, abuse. 9. onset, encounter.

—Antonyms 1, 4. defend. 9. defense.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Attack

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

at·tack Audio Help   (ə-tāk') Pronunciation Key
v.   at·tacked, at·tack·ing, at·tacks

v.   tr.

To set upon with violent force.
To criticize strongly or in a hostile manner.
To start work on with purpose and vigor: attack a problem.
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.

The act or an instance of attacking; an assault.
An expression of strong criticism; hostile comment: vicious attacks in all the newspapers.
Sports
1. An offensive action in a sport or game.
2. The players executing such an action.
3. The initial movement in a task or undertaking: made an optimistic attack on the pile of paperwork.
4. A method or procedure: Our attack on this project will have two phases.
5. Music The beginning or manner of beginning a piece, passage, or tone.
6. Decisiveness and clarity in artistic expression: a careful performance, but one lacking the rigorous attack the work demands.
1. The initial movement in a task or undertaking: made an optimistic attack on the pile of paperwork.
2. A method or procedure: Our attack on this project will have two phases.
3. Music The beginning or manner of beginning a piece, passage, or tone.
4. Decisiveness and clarity in artistic expression: a careful performance, but one lacking the rigorous attack the work demands.
An episode or onset of a disease, especially an occurrence of a chronic disease: an asthma attack.
The experience or beginning of a feeling, need, or desire: an attack of hunger; an attack of melancholy.
1. Music The beginning or manner of beginning a piece, passage, or tone.
2. Decisiveness and clarity in artistic expression: a careful performance, but one lacking the rigorous attack the work demands.

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

at·tack'er n.

Synonyms: 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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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
attack

1600, from Fr. attaquer (16c.), from Florentine attaccare (battaglia) "join (battle)," thus the word is a doublet of attach, which was also used 15c.-17c. in the sense now reserved to attack.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

attack
noun
1.	(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons); "the attack began at dawn"
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" [syn: fire]
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" [syn: approach]
5.	the act of attacking; "attacks on women increased last year"; "they made an attempt on his life"
6.	a decisive manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase
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"
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" [ant: defend]
2.	attack in speech or writing; "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker"
3.	take the initiative and go on the offensive; "The Serbs attacked the village at night"; "The visiting team started to attack"
4.	attack someone physically or emotionally; "The mugger assaulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him regularly" [syn: assail]
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"

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
attack1 [əˈtӕk] verb

to make a sudden, violent attempt to hurt or damage
Example: He attacked me with a knife; The village was attacked from the air.

Arabic:	يُهاجِم
Chinese (Simplified):	攻击
Chinese (Traditional):	攻擊
Czech:	napadnout
Danish:	angribe
Dutch:	aanvallen
Estonian:	ründama
Finnish:	hyökätä
French:	attaquer
German:	angreifen
Greek:	επιτίθεμαι
Hungarian:	megtámad
Icelandic:	ráðast á
Indonesian:	menyerang
Italian:	attaccare

Japanese:	襲う
Korean:	공격하다
Latvian:	uzbrukt
Lithuanian:	atakuoti, pulti
Norwegian:	angripe
Polish:	atakować
Portuguese (Brazil):	atacar
Portuguese (Portugal):	atacar
Romanian:	a ataca
Russian:	нападать
Slovak:	napadnúť
Slovenian:	napasti
Spanish:	atacar
Swedish:	attackera
Turkish:	saldırmak, hücum etmek

attack2 [əˈtӕk] verb

to speak or write against
Example: The Prime Minister's policy was attacked in the newspapers.

Arabic:	يَتَهَجَّم عَلى
Chinese (Simplified):	抨击
Chinese (Traditional):	抨擊
Czech:	napadnout
Danish:	angribe; kritisere
Dutch:	aanvallen
Estonian:	ründama
Finnish:	hyökätä
French:	attaquer
German:	angreifen
Greek:	επιτίθεμαι φραστικά
Hungarian:	(meg)támad
Icelandic:	ráðast á
Indonesian:	menyerang
Italian:	attaccare

Japanese:	非難する
Korean:	비난하다
Latvian:	uzbrukt; kritizēt
Lithuanian:	už(si)pulti
Norwegian:	angripe, kritisere
Polish:	atakować
Portuguese (Brazil):	atacar
Portuguese (Portugal):	atacar
Romanian:	a ataca
Russian:	критиковать
Slovak:	napadnúť
Slovenian:	kritizirati
Spanish:	atacar
Swedish:	attackera
Turkish:	çatmak, saldırmak

attack3 [əˈtӕk] verb

(in games) to attempt to score a goal

Arabic:	يَهْجُم (في الرِياضَه)
Chinese (Simplified):	进攻
Chinese (Traditional):	進攻
Czech:	zaútočit
Danish:	angribe
Dutch:	aanvallen
Estonian:	peale tungima
Finnish:	hyökätä
French:	attaquer
German:	angreifen
Greek:	κάνω επίθεση με σκοπό να σκοράρω
Hungarian:	támad
Icelandic:	sækja
Indonesian:	menyerang
Italian:	attaccare

Japanese:	攻める
Korean:	(시합 등에서) 공격하다
Latvian:	uzbrukt
Lithuanian:	pereiti į puolimą
Norwegian:	angripe
Polish:	atakować
Portuguese (Brazil):	atacar
Portuguese (Portugal):	atacar
Romanian:	a ataca
Russian:	атаковать
Slovak:	zaútočiť
Slovenian:	napadati
Spanish:	atacar
Swedish:	anfalla
Turkish:	hücum etmek

attack4 [əˈtӕk] verb

to make a vigorous start on
Example: It's time we attacked that pile of work.

Arabic:	يَشْرَع، يَبْدأ العَمَل بِقُوَّه
Chinese (Simplified):	（干劲十足地）投入
Chinese (Traditional):	(幹勁十足地)投入
Czech:	pustit se do
Danish:	give sig i kast med; tage fat på
Dutch:	aanpakken
Estonian:	kallale asuma
Finnish:	käydä käsiksi
French:	s'attaquer à
German:	in Angriff nehmen
Greek:	καταπιάνομαι
Hungarian:	nekilát
Icelandic:	takast á við
Indonesian:	memulai
Italian:	iniziare, affrontare

Japanese:	勢いよく始める
Korean:	(일에) 착수하다
Latvian:	ķerties pie (kāda darba, uzdevuma)
Lithuanian:	imtis, griebtis
Norwegian:	gå løs på, ta fatt på
Polish:	zabierać się za
Portuguese (Brazil):	atacar
Portuguese (Portugal):	atirar-se a
Romanian:	a se pune pe
Russian:	энергично браться
Slovak:	pustiť sa do
Slovenian:	spoprijeti se
Spanish:	lanzarse (a)
Swedish:	attackera, ta itu med
Turkish:	girişmek, yapmaya koyulmak

attack1 [əˈtӕk] noun

an act or the action of attacking
Example: The brutal attack killed the old man; They made an air attack on the town.

Arabic:	هُجوم
Chinese (Simplified):	攻击
Chinese (Traditional):	攻擊
Czech:	přepadení, útok, nálet
Danish:	overfald; angreb
Dutch:	aanval
Estonian:	rünnak
Finnish:	hyökkäys
French:	attaque
German:	der Angriff
Greek:	επίθεση
Hungarian:	támadás
Icelandic:	árás
Indonesian:	serangan
Italian:	attacco

Japanese:	攻撃
Korean:	공격
Latvian:	uzbrukums
Lithuanian:	ataka, antpuolis
Norwegian:	angrep, overfall
Polish:	atak
Portuguese (Brazil):	ataque
Portuguese (Portugal):	ataque
Romanian:	atac
Russian:	нападение
Slovak:	prepad, útok
Slovenian:	napad
Spanish:	ataque
Swedish:	attack, överfall
Turkish:	saldırı, hücum

attack2 [əˈtӕk] noun

a sudden bout of illness
Example: heart attack; an attack of 'flu

Arabic:	نَوبَه مَرَضِيَّه(قلب)
Chinese (Simplified):	发作
Chinese (Traditional):	突然發作
Czech:	záchvat
Danish:	anfald
Dutch:	aanval
Estonian:	atakk, hoog
Finnish:	kohtaus
French:	crise, attaque
German:	der Anfall
Greek:	κρίση, προσβολή (για αρρώστια)
Hungarian:	roham (betegségé)
Icelandic:	kast, áfall
Indonesian:	serangan
Italian:	attacco

Japanese:	発病
Korean:	발병
Latvian:	lēkme
Lithuanian:	priepuolis, susirgimas
Norwegian:	anfall; (hjerte)infarkt
Polish:	atak
Portuguese (Brazil):	ataque
Portuguese (Portugal):	ataque
Romanian:	criză, atac
Russian:	приступ
Slovak:	záchvat
Slovenian:	napad
Spanish:	ataque
Swedish:	attack, anfall
Turkish:	kriz, nöbet

American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

attack at·tack (ə-tāk')
n.
An episode or onset of a disease, often sudden in nature.

at·tack' v.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: ¹at·tack
Pronunciation: &-'tak
Function: transitive verb
: to begin to affect or to act on injuriously attacked the kidneys> <attacked by a fever>

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: ²attack
Function: noun
: a fit of sickness; especially : an active episode of a chronic or recurrent disease

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: at·tack
Function: noun
: an attempt to prove something invalid or incorrect esp. through judicial procedures <made an attack on the will as notproperly witnessed>; specifically : an attempt to have the judgment of a court corrected or overruled

collateral attack
: an attack on a judgment made during or bya proceeding brought for a different purpose —see also habeas corpus ad subjiciendum at HABEASCORPUS

direct attack
: an attack on a judgment made in a proceeding (as an appeal) brought for the specific purpose of having the judgment corrected or overturned—attack verb

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Attack

As*sail"\ ([a^]s*s[=a]l"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assailed (-s[=a]ld"); p. pr. & vb. n. Assailing.] [OE. assailen, asailen, OF. asaillir, assailler, F. assaillir; a (L. ad) + saillir to burst out, project, fr. L. salire to leap, spring; cf. L. assilire to leap or spring upon. See Sally.]

1. To attack with violence, or in a vehement and hostile manner; to assault; to molest; as, to assail a man with blows; to assail a city with artillery.

No rude noise mine ears assailing. --Cowper.

No storm can now assail The charm he wears within. --Keble.

2. To encounter or meet purposely with the view of mastering, as an obstacle, difficulty, or the like.

The thorny wilds the woodmen fierce assail. --Pope.

3. To attack morally, or with a view to produce changes in the feelings, character, conduct, existing usages, institutions; to attack by words, hostile influence, etc.; as, to assail one with appeals, arguments, abuse, ridicule, and the like.

The papal authority . . . assailed. --Hallam.

They assailed him with keen invective; they assailed him with still keener irony. --Macaulay.

Syn: To attack; assault; invade; encounter; fall upon. See Attack.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Attack

As*sault"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assaulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Assaulting.] [From Assault, n.: cf. OF. assaulter, LL. assaltare.]

1. To make an assault upon, as by a sudden rush of armed men; to attack with unlawful or insulting physical violence or menaces.

Insnared, assaulted, overcome, led bound. --Milton.

2. To attack with moral means, or with a view of producing moral effects; to attack by words, arguments, or unfriendly measures; to assail; as, to assault a reputation or an administration.

Before the gates, the cries of babes newborn, . . . Assault his ears. --Dryden.

Note: In the latter sense, assail is more common.

Syn: To attack; assail; invade; encounter; storm; charge. See Attack.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Attack

At*tach"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attached; p. pr. & vb. n. Attaching.] [OF. atachier, F. attacher, to tie or fasten: cf. Celt. tac, tach, nail, E. tack a small nail, tack to fasten. Cf. Attack, and see Tack.]

1. To bind, fasten, tie, or connect; to make fast or join; as, to attach one thing to another by a string, by glue, or the like.

The shoulder blade is . . . attached only to the muscles. --Paley.

A huge stone to which the cable was attached. --Macaulay.

2. To connect; to place so as to belong; to assign by authority; to appoint; as, an officer is attached to a certain regiment, company, or ship.

3. To win the heart of; to connect by ties of love or self-interest; to attract; to fasten or bind by moral influence; -- with to; as, attached to a friend; attaching others to us by wealth or flattery.

Incapable of attaching a sensible man. --Miss Austen.

God . . . by various ties attaches man to man. --Cowper.

4. To connect, in a figurative sense; to ascribe or attribute; to affix; -- with to; as, to attach great importance to a particular circumstance.

Top this treasure a curse is attached. --Bayard Taylor.

5. To take, seize, or lay hold of. [Obs.] --Shak.

6. To take by legal authority: (a) To arrest by writ, and bring before a court, as to answer for a debt, or a contempt; -- applied to a taking of the person by a civil process; being now rarely used for the arrest of a criminal. (b) To seize or take (goods or real estate) by virtue of a writ or precept to hold the same to satisfy a judgment which may be rendered in the suit. See Attachment, 4.

The earl marshal attached Gloucester for high treason. --Miss Yonge.

Attached column (Arch.), a column engaged in a wall, so that only a part of its circumference projects from it.

Syn: To affix; bind; tie; fasten; connect; conjoin; subjoin; annex; append; win; gain over; conciliate.

On-line Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

attack

attack: in CancerWEB's On-line Medical Dictionary

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