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   As·sault

   /əˈsôlt/

   

   verb

   • 1. make a physical attack on: "he pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer" Similar hitstrikephysically attackaim blows atslapsmackbeatthrashspankthumpthwackpunchcuffswatknockrappummelpoundbatterpeltweltcanelashwhipclubcudgelbox someone's earsinformal:cloutwallopbeltwhackbashclobberbopbiffsockdeckslugplugknock aroundknock into the middle of next weeklay intodo overrough upquiltliterary:smitesexually assaultabusemolestrapeinterfere with
   • ▪ carry out a military attack or raid on (an enemy position): "they left their strong position to assault the hill" Similar attackmake an assault onlaunch an attack onassailpounce onset uponlaunch oneself atstrike atfall onswoop onrushstormbesiege
   • ▪ attack or bombard (someone or the senses) with something undesirable or unpleasant: "her right ear was assaulted with a tide of music"

   noun

   • 1. a physical attack: "his imprisonment for an assault on the film director" Similar violencephysical violencebatterymugginggrievous bodily harmactual bodily harmGBHABH
   • ▪ an act, criminal or tortious, that threatens physical harm to a person, whether or not actual harm is done: "he appeared in court charged with assault"
   • ▪ a military attack or raid on an enemy position: "troops began an assault on the city" Similar attackstrikeonslaughtoffensivestormingchargedrivepushthrustinvasionbombardmentsortiesallyforayincursionraidact of waract of aggressionblitzcampaign
   • ▪ a strong verbal attack: "the assault on the party's tax policies"
   • 2. a concerted attempt to do something demanding: "a winter assault on Mt. Everest"

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French asaut (noun), assauter (verb), based on Latin ad- ‘to’ + saltare, frequentative of salire ‘to leap’. Compare with assail.

   Derivatives

   • 1. assaulter noun

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • A

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   • S

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   • S

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   • A

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   • U

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   • L

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   • T

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