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- DictionaryAt·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
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