attack

II. attack² S3 W2 BrE AmE verb
[Word Family: noun: ↑attack, ↑counterattack, ↑attacker; verb: ↑attack, ↑counterattack; adjective: attacking, counterattacking]
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: attaquer, from Old Italian attaccare 'to attach', from stacca 'sharp post']
1. USE VIOLENCE [intransitive and transitive] to deliberately use violence to hurt a person or damage a place:
She was attacked while walking home late at night.
His shop was attacked by a gang of youths.
Snakes will only attack if you disturb them.
attack somebody/something with something
He needed 200 stitches after being attacked with a broken bottle.
2. IN A WAR [intransitive and transitive] to start using guns, bombs etc against an enemy in a war:
Army tanks attacked a village near the capital on Sunday.
3. CRITICIZE [transitive] to criticize someone or something very strongly:
Last year Dr Travis publicly attacked the idea that abortion should be available on demand.
attack somebody for (doing) something
Newspapers attacked the government for failing to cut taxes.
strongly/bitterly/savagely etc attack somebody/something
4. DAMAGE [transitive] if something such as a disease, insect, or chemical attacks something, it damages it:
a cruel disease that attacks the brain and nervous system
5. BEGIN DOING [transitive] to begin to do something in a determined and eager way:
She immediately set about attacking the problem.
Martin attacked his meal (=started eating) with vigour.
6. SPORT [intransitive and transitive] to move forward and try to score ↑goals or win points ⇨ defend:
Brazil began to attack more in the second half of the match.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ to attack a person
▪ attack to use violence against someone and try to hurt them: She was attacked by a man with a baseball bat. | Police dogs are trained to attack.
▪ ambush /ˈæmbʊʃ/ if a group of people ambush someone, they hide and wait for them and then attack them: The judge was ambushed by gunmen as he drove to work at the courthouse.
▪ mug to attack someone and take money from them in a public place such as a street: He was mugged on his way home from school.
▪ stab to attack someone with a knife: The victim had been stabbed in the neck.
▪ assault to attack and hurt someone – used especially when talking about this as a criminal ↑offence: He assaulted a flight attendant who refused to serve him more drinks.
▪ be set upon by somebody/something written to be attacked by a group of people: He died outside his home after being set upon by a gang of youths.
▪ turn on to suddenly change your behaviour and attack the person you are with, when they do not expect this: The dog suddenly turned on him, sinking its teeth into his arm.
■ to attack a place
▪ attack to use weapons to try to damage or take control of a place: The village was attacked by enemy warplanes. | We will attack at dawn.
▪ invade to enter a country and try to get control of it using force: The Romans invaded Britain 2,000 years ago.
▪ storm to suddenly attack a city or building that is well defended by getting inside it and taking control: Elite troops stormed the building and rescued the hostages.
▪ besiege /bɪˈsiːdʒ/ to surround a city or building with soldiers in order to stop the people inside from getting out or from receiving supplies: In April 655, Osman’s palace was besieged by rebels.