/ əˈtæk; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
VIOLENCE
1.
[ C , U ] attack (on sb) an act of using violence to try to hurt or kill sb :
a series of racist attacks
IN WAR
2.
[ C , U ] attack (on sb/sth) an act of trying to kill or injure the enemy in war, using weapons such as guns and bombs :
to launch / make / mount an attack
The patrol came under attack from all sides.
—see also counter-attack
CRITICISM
3.
[ C , U ] attack (on sb/sth) strong criticism of sb/sth in speech or in writing :
a scathing attack on the government's policies
The school has come under attack for failing to encourage bright pupils.
ACTION TO STOP STH
4.
[ C ] attack (on sth) an action that you take to try to stop or change sth that you feel is bad :
to launch an all-out attack on poverty / unemployment
OF ILLNESS
5.
[ C ] a sudden, short period of illness, usually severe, especially an illness that you have often :
to suffer an asthma attack
an acute attack of food poisoning
a panic attack
( figurative )
an attack of the giggles
—see also heart attack
OF EMOTION
6.
[ C ] a sudden period of feeling an emotion such as fear :
an attack of nerves
DAMAGE
7.
[ U , C ] the action of sth such as an insect, or a disease, that causes damage to sth/sb :
The roof timbers were affected by rot and insect attack.
IN SPORT
8.
[ sing. ] ( BrE ) ( NAmE of·fense ) the players in a team whose job is to try to score goals or points :
Germany's attack has been weakened by the loss of some key players through injury.
—compare defence
9.
[ C , U ] the actions that players take to try to score a goal or win the game :
a sustained attack on the Arsenal goal
■ verb
USE VIOLENCE
1.
to use violence to try to hurt or kill sb :
[ vn ] [ often passive ]:
A woman was attacked and robbed by a gang of youths.
The man attacked him with a knife.
[ v ]
Most dogs will not attack unless provoked.
IN WAR
2.
to use weapons, such as guns and bombs against an enemy in a war, etc. :
[ vn ]
At dawn the army attacked the town.
[ v ]
The guerrillas attack at night.
CRITICIZE
3.
[ vn ] attack sb/sth (for sth / for doing sth) to criticize sb/sth severely :
a newspaper article attacking the England football manager
She has been attacked for ignoring her own party members.
DAMAGE
4.
[ vn ] to have a harmful effect on sth :
a disease that attacks the brain
The vines were attacked by mildew.
DO STH WITH ENERGY
5.
[ vn ] to deal with sth with a lot of energy and determination :
Let's attack one problem at a time.
IN SPORT
6.
[ v ] to go forward in a game in order to try to score goals or points
—compare defend :
Spain attacked more in the second half and deserved a goal.
••
WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent.: from French attaque (noun), attaquer (verb), from Italian attacco an attack, attaccare join battle, based on an element of Germanic origin (see attach ).