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   At·tack

   /əˈtak/

   

   verb

   • 1. take aggressive action against (a place or enemy forces) with weapons or armed force, typically in a battle or war: "in December, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor" Similar begin an assaultchargepouncestrikebegin hostilitiesambushbombardshellblitzstrafefire on/atrushstormOpposite defend
   • ▪ (of a person or animal) act against (someone or something) aggressively in an attempt to injure or kill: "a doctor was attacked by two youths" Similar assaultbeatbeat upbatterthrashpoundpummelassailset uponfall uponstrike atlet fly attear intolash out ataggressambushmugpounce oninformal:jumppastedo overwork overknock aroundrough uplay intolace intosail intopitch intoget stuck intobeat the living daylights out oflet someone have itset abouthave a go atduff someone upbeat up onlight into
   • ▪ (of a disease, chemical substance, or insect) act harmfully on: "the disease is thought to attack certain cells in the brain" Similar affecthave an effect onstrikestrike attake hold ofinfectdamageinjureOpposite protect
   • ▪ criticize or oppose fiercely and publicly: "he attacked the government's defense policy" Similar criticizecensurecondemncastigatechastiselambastepillorysavagefind fault withfulminate againstabuseberatereproverebukereprimandadmonishremonstrate withreproachtake to taskhaul over the coalsimpugnharangueblamerevilevilifygive someone a bad pressinformal:knockslamtake to piecespull apartcrucifybashhammerlay intotear intosail intoroastgive someone a roastingcaneblastbawl outdress downrap over the knuckleshave a go atgive someone hellcarpetslateslag offrubbishmonsterrollickgive someone a rollickinggive someone a rockettear someone off a striptear a strip off someonechew outream outpummelcut upbagvulgar slang:bollockgive someone a bollockingdated:ratearchaic:slashrare:excoriateobjurgatereprehendOpposite praise
   • ▪ begin to deal with (a problem or task) in a determined and vigorous way: "a plan of action to attack unemployment" Similar attend toaddresssee todeal withgrapple withconfrontdirect one's attention tofocus onconcentrate onapply oneself tobuckle down toget to work ongo to work onset to work onset aboutget started onundertakeembark oninformal:get stuck intoget cracking onget weaving onhave a crack athave a go athave a shot athave a stab at
   • ▪ make an aggressive or forceful attempt to score a goal or point, or gain or exploit an advantage in a game against an opposing team or player: "the home team attacked from the kick off"
   • ▪ move into or be in a position to capture (an opponent's piece).
   • ▪ (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: "the nucleophile attacks the epoxide from the opposite side of the ring to the oxygen"

   noun

   • 1. an aggressive and violent action against a person or place: "he was killed in an attack on a checkpoint" Similar assaultonslaughtoffensivestrikeblitzraidsortiesallystormingchargerushdrivepushthrustinvasionincursioninroadact of aggressionhistorical:razziaarchaic:onset
   • ▪ destructive action by a disease, chemical, or insect: "the tissue is open to attack by fungus"
   • ▪ a sudden short bout of an illness or stress: "an attack of nausea" Similar fitseizurespasmconvulsionparoxysmoutburstflare-upboutspelldoserare:access
   • ▪ an instance of fierce public criticism or opposition: "he launched a stinging attack on the White House" Similar criticismcensurerebukeadmonitionadmonishmentreprimandreprovalcondemnationdenunciationrevilementinvectivevilificationtiradediatriberantpolemicbroadsideharangueverbal onslaughtstrictureinformal:knockingtelling-offdressing-downrap over the knucklesearfulroastingrollickingcaningrocketwiggingslatingticking offcarpetingbashingblastvulgar slang:bollockingdated:ratingrare:philippicOpposite commendationdefense
   • ▪ a determined attempt to tackle a problem or task: "an attack on inflation"
   • ▪ the manner of beginning to play or sing a passage.
   • ▪ forceful and decisive style in performing music or another art: "the sheer attack of Hendrix's playing"
   • ▪ an aggressive attempt to score a goal, win points, or gain or exploit an advantage in a game.
   • ▪ a threat to capture an opponent's piece.

   Word Origin early 17th century: from French attaque (noun), attaquer (verb), from Italian attacco ‘an attack’, attaccare ‘join battle’, based on an element of Germanic origin (see attach).

   Scrabble Points: 12

   • A

     1

   • T

     1

   • T

     1

   • A

     1

   • C

     3

   • K

     5

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2. People also ask

   What is the meaning of attack?

   • the act of attacking; onslaught; assault. a military offensive against an enemy or enemy position. an attack of indigestion. the beginning or initiating of any action; onset. an aggressive move in a performance or contest. the approach or manner of approach in beginning a musical phrase.

   ATTACK Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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   Is attack a verb or a noun?

   • Attack means to attempt to inflict harm with physical violence, to attempt to inflict harm with words, or to initiate a military offensive against another. Attack has many other senses as a verb and a noun. Attack means to engage in physical violence against something with the intent to cause physical harm, damage, or death.

   ATTACK Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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   What is an attack in the military?

   • In the military, an attack is an advance of troops or the use of armed force against an enemy. When one little kid attacks another, there usually aren't any bombs or weapons involved, but the idea of force or hostility is the same. You might also attack an opponent in a game, or withstand a verbal attack from a classmate during a debate.

   Attack - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/attack

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3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › attackAttack Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › attack

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   Learn the various meanings and uses of the word attack as a verb, noun, and adjective. See synonyms, examples, etymology, and related phrases of attack.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › attackATTACK Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › attack

   • Cached

   Attack is a verb that means to set upon someone or something forcibly, with or without a weapon, or to begin hostilities against someone or something. It can also be a noun that means the act of attacking, onslaught, or assault. See synonyms, antonyms, origin, and usage examples of attack on Dictionary.com.

5. Videos

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6. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishATTACK | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   Learn the meaning of attack as a verb and a noun in English, with synonyms, antonyms, and usage examples. Find out how to use attack in different contexts, such as violence, criticism, sports, and illness.

7. dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › attackATTACK | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › attack

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   Learn the meaning of attack as a noun and a verb in different contexts, such as violence, criticism, illness and sport. See examples, synonyms and translations of attack in various languages.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › english › attackATTACK | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › english › attack

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   Learn the meaning of attack as a verb and a noun in different contexts, such as violence, criticism, sports, and illness. See synonyms, antonyms, and related words for attack.

9. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › attackAttack - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › attack

   When you attack, you charge or advance violently. It's scary to watch a big dog attack a smaller dog.

10. www.thefreedictionary.com › attackAttack - definition of attack by The Free Dictionary

    www.thefreedictionary.com › attack

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    Learn the meaning, usage, and synonyms of the word attack, which can refer to a physical or verbal assault, a hostile criticism, a vigorous action, or a disease. Find out the origin, history, and examples of attack in different contexts and fields.