ASSAULT

[noun], [verb] - (to make) a sudden violent attack on (someone), esp. a sexual oneFollowing a police arrest yesterday, a man has been charged with sexual assault. [U]The number of indecent assaults has increased alarmingly over the past year. [C]The Serbs launched a major military assault on a Croatian stronghold yesterday. [C](figurative) She died heroically during an assault on (= an attempt to climb) the world's second-highest mountain. [C](figurative) I'm really going to have to make an assault on (= make a great effort to deal with) all this paperwork before my holiday. [C](figurative) Women's groups have demanded a nationwide assault on sexism in the workplace. [C]A woman and a man have been convicted of assaulting a police officer following last month's demonstration. [T]The robber also attempted to sexually assault the woman but was scared off when she shouted for help. [T](legal) Assault is any act which causes someone to think they are in immediate danger of being physically harmed, whether or not injury follows.(UK) An assault course (US obstacle course) is an area of land on which soldiers have to run between and climb over or cross various objects which are designed to test their fitness and strength.(figurative) Meetings with tax inspectors are often bureaucratic assault courses.(legal) Assault and battery is (UK) a threat to attack someone followed either by a violent physical act or by touching which is not violent but is not intended to be friendly, or (US) a violent physical attack on someone.