n.
Function: noun
Date: 1655
1 : the act of attacking with physical force or unfriendly words : ASSAULT
2 : a belligerent or antagonistic action
3 a : a fit of sickness especially : an active episode of a chronic or recurrent disease b : a period of being strongly affected by something (as a desire or mood)
4 a : an offensive or scoring action <won the game with an 8-hit attack > b : offensive players or the positions taken up by them
5 : the setting to work on some undertaking <made a new attack on the problem>
6 : the beginning of destructive action (as by a chemical agent)
7 : the act or manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase