attack

1 noun

1 VIOLENCE AGAINST SB (C) an act of deliberately using violence against someone

(+ on): There have been several attacks on foreigners recently.

2 IN A WAR (C, U) the act of using weapons against an enemy in a war: The attack began at dawn.

(+ on): a carefully planned attack on Iraqi air bases | be/come under attack: Once again we came under attack from enemy fighter planes. | launch an attack (=start an attack)

3 CRITICISM (C, U) a statement that criticizes someone strongly

(+ on): recent attacks on the Prime Minister | be/come under attack (=be strongly criticized): The company came under attack for the firing of 50 employees. | go on the attack (=start to criticize someone severely)

4 ACTIONS TO STOP STH (C, U) actions intended to get rid of or stop something such as a system, a set of laws etc

(+ on): Mrs Thatcher's attack on the welfare state

5 ILLNESS (C) a sudden short period of suffering from an illness, especially an illness that you have often: an attack of asthma

6 SPORT (C, U)

a) an attempt by a group of players to make a goal (2)

b) the group of players on a team whose job is to make a goal (2): the Arsenal attack

7 an attack of fear/panic/anxiety etc a short period of time when you feel frightened, worried etc: panic attacks

-see also: heart attack 2 verb

1 ATTACK SOMEONE (I, T) to deliberately use physical violence against someone: Jim was attacked by a man in the park. | dogs trained to attack on command | attack sb with sth: She started attacking the burglar with a piece of wood.

2 IN A WAR (I, T) to start using guns, bombs etc against an enemy in a war: The village had been attacked by the French airforce.

3 CRITICIZE (T) to criticize someone or something very strongly: The senator made a speech attacking Clinton's healthcare program. | attack sb for sth: The article attacked the government for its policy on education.

4 SPORT (I, T) to move forward and try to make a goal (2): Brazil began to attack more in the second half of the match.

5 BEGIN DOING (T) to begin doing a job or dealing with a problem with determination and eagerness: She immediately set about attacking the problem.

6 DISEASE (T) to damage part of someone's body: a cruel disease that attacks the central nervous system