attack

at|tack1 [ ə`tæk ] noun ***

1. ) count a violent attempt to harm a person, animal, or place:

a vicious attack

attack on: measures to reduce the number of sexual attacks on young women

a ) count or uncount an organized attempt to defeat an enemy, using weapons:

a nuclear attack

attack on: Government forces renewed their attacks on a key communications tower.

launch/mount an attack: We mounted a surprise attack against their ammunition depot.

be/come under attack: The city was under attack throughout the night.

2. ) count or uncount strong criticism:

attack on: The book is widely seen as an attack on the education system.

launch/mount an attack: He was outraged by the personal attacks launched against him.

be/come under attack: Both candidates have come under attack for their health-care proposals.

3. ) count the beginning or return of an illness, or the period during which you have it:

a severe asthma attack

attack of: an attack of flu

a ) the beginning of a strong feeling or need, or the period during which you have it:

a hunger attack

an anxiety attack

attack of: an attack of spring fever

=> HEART ATTACK

4. ) count an attempt to score points against an opponent in a game or sport:

Their attack in the final minutes wasn't enough to win the game.

attack

at|tack 2 [ ə`tæk ] verb ***

▸ 1 use violence to harm

▸ 2 strongly criticize

▸ 3 cause damage/disease

▸ 4 begin with enthusiasm

▸ 5 try to score points

1. ) intransitive or transitive to use violence to harm a person, animal, or place:

It was shortly before midnight when the terrorists attacked.

attack someone with something: Two prison officers were brutally attacked with a knife.

a ) to use weapons to try to defeat an enemy:

The enemy attacked at dawn.

U.S. jets attacked five air-defense sites in the north.

2. ) transitive to strongly criticize someone or something for their ideas or actions:

Opponents attacked the government's plan to increase highway taxes.

attack someone/something for something: Congress is being attacked for failing to take action.

attack something as something: The mayor last night attacked the decision as foolish.

3. ) intransitive or transitive to cause damage or disease in something:

The virus attacks the body's red blood cells.

The wood had been attacked by a fungus.

4. ) transitive to begin working on something or doing something with enthusiasm and determination:

We need to attack the problem now before it gets worse.

She was just about to attack a plate of spaghetti when the phone rang.

5. ) intransitive or transitive to try to score points against an opponent in a game or sport:

They attacked with determination and defended well.