Dictionary

attack en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (General-American) audio
• (General-American) audio
• /əˈtak/ (British, Northern-England, Scotland, Southern, Standard, Wales)
• (Australia) audio
• /əˈtæk/ (Australia, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• /əˈtɛk/ (New-Zealand)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Italian a- Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ ▲ Proto-Indo-European *trísinflu. Proto-Indo-European *d(w)is- Proto-Italic *dis- Latin dis- Old French des- Proto-Indo-European *(s)teyg- Proto-Germanic *stikaną Proto-West Germanic *stekander. Old French atachier Old French destachier Middle French destacherbor. Italian distaccare Italian staccare Italian attaccarebor. French attaquerdeverb. French attaquebor. English attack Borrowed from French attaque, derived from the verb attaquer, from Italian attaccare (“to join, attach”) (used in attaccare battaglia (“to join battle”)), from Frankish *stakkijan (“to stick, stick to, attach”). Doublet of attach. Displaced native Middle English onresen, from Old English onrǣsan (“to attack”); and Middle English resinge (“an assault, attack”) (compare Old English onrǣs (“an attack”)).

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) Designed or kept for the purpose of confrontation.
   • attack dog, attack ad

attack en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (General-American) audio
• (General-American) audio
• /əˈtak/ (British, Northern-England, Scotland, Southern, Standard, Wales)
• (Australia) audio
• /əˈtæk/ (Australia, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• /əˈtɛk/ (New-Zealand)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Italian a- Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ ▲ Proto-Indo-European *trísinflu. Proto-Indo-European *d(w)is- Proto-Italic *dis- Latin dis- Old French des- Proto-Indo-European *(s)teyg- Proto-Germanic *stikaną Proto-West Germanic *stekander. Old French atachier Old French destachier Middle French destacherbor. Italian distaccare Italian staccare Italian attaccarebor. French attaquerdeverb. French attaquebor. English attack Borrowed from French attaque, derived from the verb attaquer, from Italian attaccare (“to join, attach”) (used in attaccare battaglia (“to join battle”)), from Frankish *stakkijan (“to stick, stick to, attach”). Doublet of attach. Displaced native Middle English onresen, from Old English onrǣsan (“to attack”); and Middle English resinge (“an assault, attack”) (compare Old English onrǣs (“an attack”)).

Meanings

1. An attempt to cause damage, injury to, or death of an opponent or enemy.
   • One particularly damaging, but often ignored, effect of conflict on education is the proliferation of attacks on schools[…]as children, teachers or school buildings become the targets of attacks. Parents fear sending their children to school. Girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence. 2013 July 19, Mark Tran, “Denied an education by war”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 1:
   • From 1906 to 1960, there were forty-six recorded shark attacks, half of which were fatal. 1983, Richard Ellis, The Book of Sharks, Knopf, →ISBN, page 161:
2. An attempt to cause damage, injury to, or death of an opponent or enemy. ▸ Any of several specific maneuvers, skills, or special abilities that a character can use to inflict damage against opponents.
   • Combat in Mimesis Online is nice and simple. You click on your target […] and then keep right-clicking your chosen attack from the drop down menu. Every time you right click on the attack, your character will swing, shoot, etc. 2002 March, Aaron Butler, “Mimesis Online (PC)”, in GameSpy.com, archived from the original on 16 Dec 2002:
   • Kleavor has several attacks that it's worth roughly memorising: a charge attack, where it runs at you quickly; a jump attack, that causes a pillar of rock to spike out from under the ground; and a spin attack that does damage in a circle around it. 2022 January 28, Chris Tapsell, “Pokémon Legends Arceus Kleavor boss fight: How to beat Kleavor”, in Eurogamer.ner:
3. An attempt to detract from the worth or credibility of, a person, position, idea, object, or thing, by physical, verbal, emotional, or other assault.
   • “I came down like a wolf on the fold, didn’t I ? Why didn’t I telephone ? Strategy, my dear boy, strategy. This is a surprise attack, and I’d no wish that the garrison, forewarned, should escape. …” 1913, Robert Barr, chapter 4, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad:
   • They claimed the censorship of the article was an attack on free speech.
4. A time in which one attacks; the offence of a battle.
   • The army timed their attack to coincide with the local celebrations.
5. (broadly, informal) The beginning of active operations on anything.
   • Having washed the plates from dinner, I made an attack on the laundry.
6. An attempt to exploit a vulnerability in a computer system.
   • birthday attack; denial-of-service attack
7. Collectively, the bowlers of a cricket side.
8. Any contact with the ball other than a serve or block which sends the ball across the plane of the net.
9. The three attackmen on the field or all the attackmen of a team.
10. The sudden onset of a disease or condition.
    • I've had an attack of the flu.
11. An active episode of a chronic or recurrent disease.
12. The onset of a musical note, particularly with respect to the strength (and duration) of that onset.
    • Eric Reed was a curious choice as pianist, since his busy Petersonian attack is the antithesis of Lewis's, but he acquitted himself with panache, […] 2004, Gary Giddins, Weather Bird: Jazz at the Dawn of Its Second Century, page 322:
13. (qualifier:acoustics) The amount of time taken for the volume of an audio signal to go from zero to maximum level (e.g. an audio waveform representing a snare drum hit would feature a very fast attack, whereas that of a wave washing to shore would feature a slow attack).
14. The initial sensory impact of a wine.
15. (India, South, abbreviation, alt-of) Short for heart attack.
    alt of heart attack

Forms

Antonyms

release · decay

Deriveds

attack aircraft · the best defence is attack · attack surface · plan of attack · attackable · unattackable · attack rate · attack transport · attack is the best form of defense · nonattackable · attack helicopter · membrane attack complex · attack is the best form of defence · attacklike · attack page · attack au fer · maximum attack · attack timing · angle of attack · attack vector · personally attack · attack ad · attacking zone · attackworthy · nonattack · attack plan · attackman · attack therapy · open the attack · attack dog · line of attack · attacking midfielder · attack time · complement membrane attack complex

Hyponyms

acid attack · Byzantine attack · heart attack · second preimage attack · chosen-ciphertext attack · Adams-Stokes attack · man-in-the-middle attack · birthday attack · TOAD attack · preattack · second-preimage attack · compound attack · billion laughs attack · ember attack · known-plaintext attack · ciphertext-only attack · goal attack · smurf attack · transient ischemic attack · subattack · time-attack · asthmatic attack · collision attack · X-ray attack · shatter attack · watering hole attack · copy attack · salami attack · known-ciphertext attack · dictionary attack · bio-attack · pincer attack · sex attack · helitack · wing attack · Coppersmith's attack · Stokes-Adams attack · cyber-attack · evil maid attack · replay attack · postattack · cryptographic attack · cold boot attack · shark attack · multiattack · personal attack · spack attack · discovered attack · panic attack · score attack · arson attack · spaz attack · drop attack · fraggle attack · smudge attack · real-time attack · false attack · Grob's attack · cryptanalytic attack · suicide attack · bioattack · counter-attack · chosen-plaintext attack · Sybil attack · poisoning attack · preimage attack · time attack · asthma attack · cyberattack · on-path attack · supply chain attack · transient ischaemic attack · spike attack

Relateds

attach

Synonyms

spike · hit

Translations (279)

pl atak (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ka შეტევა (offense of a battle) · sv anfall (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · bn হামলা (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · sk útok (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · fi hyökkäys (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · or ଆକ୍ରମଣ (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · nrf attaque (offense of a battle) · la aggressiō (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · be нападзе́нне (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ms serangan (offense of a battle) · sq sulm (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ru при́ступ (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · fi kohtaus (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · ru ата́ка (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · eo atako (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · sw mashambulizi (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · bg нападе́ние (offense of a battle) · de Angriff (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · te దాడి (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · kk шабуыл (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · pl napad (offense of a battle) · zza qılıbyen (offense of a battle) · ja 攻撃 (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · pl atak (volleyball: hit other than serve or block that sends the ball over the net) · az hücum (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · fi aloitus (amount of time it takes for the volume of an audio signal to go from zero to maximum level) · lt ataka (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · pl napad (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · id serangan (offense of a battle) · ky таасир (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ka იერიში (offense of a battle) · ne हमला (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · mk напад (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · mn дайралт (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · fa-ira هُجوم (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · fi hyökkäys (offense of a battle) · lo ການໂຈມຕີ (offense of a battle) · tr taarruz (offense of a battle) · tg ҳамла (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · yi אַטאַקע (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · nb angrep (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · mk напад (offense of a battle) · pl napad (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · am መምታት (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · zza tepıştış (diq) (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · he הַתְקָפָה (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ru наступле́ние (offense of a battle) · da angreb (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · eu erasoaldi (offense of a battle) · ang onrǣs (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · es ataque (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · izh ammus (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · hi हमला (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · hi प्रहार (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · uk на́пад (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · et kallaletung (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · sv attack (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ps هجوم (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · kmr êrîş (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · gl ataque (offense of a battle) · eo atako (offense of a battle) · ky качырып кирүү (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ky асылуу (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · grc προσβολή (offense of a battle) · am ማጥቃት (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · id kritis (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · pt investida (offense of a battle) · ky атака кылуу (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ps حمله (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · br kerc'h (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · be напа́д (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ka შტურმი (offense of a battle) · ca atac (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · fi päällekarkaus (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · sw mashambulizi (offense of a battle) · fi kohtaus (active episode of a chronic or recurrent disease) · uz hamla (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ckb پەلەمار (offense of a battle) · lt puolimas (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ga ionsaí (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · es ataque (offense of a battle) · ru припа́док (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · de Angriff (offense of a battle) · mi pāha (offense of a battle) · zdj shamɓulio (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · fi iskulyönti (volleyball: hit other than serve or block that sends the ball over the net) · cs napadení (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · tr hücûm (offense of a battle) · da angreb (offense of a battle) · nn åtak (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · mi kōkiri (offense of a battle) · ka შეტევა (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · cs útok (offense of a battle) · tr hücum (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · az tutma (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · es ataque (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · tg юриш (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · sh на́пад (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · fi sairaskohtaus (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · hy նոպա (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · ca accés (active episode of a chronic or recurrent disease) · pl atak (lacrosse: the attackmen of a team) · vi sự công kích (offense of a battle) · io atako (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · te దాడి (offense of a battle) · pl atak (active episode of a chronic or recurrent disease) · sl napad (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · bg ата́ка (offense of a battle) · de Anfall (active episode of a chronic or recurrent disease) · ky кол салуу (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ky зыян (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · fi hyökkääjät (lacrosse: the attackmen of a team) · hi आक्रमण (offense of a battle) · vi sự tấn công (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ur حَمْلَہ (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · gd ionnsaigh (offense of a battle) · pl atak (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · enm enemyte (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · fi rynnäkkö (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · lv uzbrukums (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · el προσβολή (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · cy pwl (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · pdt Aunfaul (active episode of a chronic or recurrent disease) · ro atac (offense of a battle) · yue 攻擊 /攻击 (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · fi hyökkääjät (cricket: bowlers of a cricket side) · cmn 攻擊 /攻击 (offense of a battle) · ka თავდასხმა (offense of a battle) · pt ataque (offense of a battle) · is árás (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · non sókn (offense of a battle) · zza hıcum (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · sv attack (offense of a battle) · ne आक्रमण (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · el έφοδος (offense of a battle) · la impetus (offense of a battle) · gl ataque (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · gd f (offense of a battle) · ug ھۇجۇم (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ta தாக்குதல் (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · pl szturm (offense of a battle) · ga ruaig (active episode of a chronic or recurrent disease) · el κρίση (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · bn আক্রমণ (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · eo agreso (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ga taom (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · nl aanval (offense of a battle) · bg нападе́ние (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · nl aanval (volleyball: hit other than serve or block that sends the ball over the net) · ko 공격 (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · kw omsettyans (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · dsb napad (offense of a battle) · ba һөжүм (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ar حَمْلَة (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · de Attacke (offense of a battle) · sh nápad (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · el επίθεση (offense of a battle) · zza gur (diq) (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · cmn 攻擊 /攻击 (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · uk ата́ка (offense of a battle) · hy գրոհ (offense of a battle) · fa-ira حَمْلِه (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · sl napad (offense of a battle) · tt һөҗүм (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · et rünnak (offense of a battle) · nrf attaque (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · fa-ira یورِش (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · fi hyökkäys (attempt to detract from the worth or credibility of, a person, position, idea, object, or thing) · ur ہَجْمَہ (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · zza hamle (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · be нападзе́ньне (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · pl atak (attempt to detract from the worth or credibility of, a person, position, idea, object, or thing) · tr hamle (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ur ہُجُوم (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · yi אַטאַק (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · la impetus (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · pl ofensywa (offense of a battle) · it attacco (offense of a battle) · ru ата́ка (volleyball: hit other than serve or block that sends the ball over the net) · vo tatak (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · hi धावा (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ja 攻撃 (offense of a battle) · ru нападе́ние (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · sk útok (offense of a battle) · uk на́пад (offense of a battle) · tr saldırı (offense of a battle) · mi upokotaua (offense of a battle) · fy oanfal (offense of a battle) · hi धावा (offense of a battle) · ms serangan (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · tk hüjüm (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · pl akcja (offense of a battle) · hy հարձակում (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ga ionsaí (offense of a battle) · ky чабуул (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · br argadenn (offense of a battle) · pl napad (active episode of a chronic or recurrent disease) · sv anfall (offense of a battle) · ang onrǣs (offense of a battle) · pdt Aunfaul (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · de Attacke (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ta தாக்குதல் (offense of a battle) · mi huaki (offense of a battle) · ga ruaig (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · af aanval (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · tr saldırı (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · sl napad (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · ro atac (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ka იერიში (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · el επίθεση (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · mk атака (offense of a battle) · nl aanvalszijde (cricket: bowlers of a cricket side) · ky таасирлөө (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · pl atak (cricket: bowlers of a cricket side) · et haigushoog (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · he מִתְקָפָה (offense of a battle) · ko 공격 (offense of a battle) · hu támadás (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · fi rynnäkkö (offense of a battle) · nl aanslag (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · it attacco (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · id anfal (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · el ανάκρουση (amount of time it takes for the volume of an audio signal to go from zero to maximum level) · th การโจมตี (offense of a battle) · eu eraso (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · uz hujum (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · nb anfall (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · fi isku (attempt to detract from the worth or credibility of, a person, position, idea, object, or thing) · ga amas (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · bg настъпле́ние (offense of a battle) · la impugnātiō (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ru нападе́ние (offense of a battle) · pl atak (offense of a battle) · cy cyrch (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ur آکْرَمَن (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · az həmlə (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ru ата́ка (offense of a battle) · ky качыруу (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · id serbuan (offense of a battle) · de Anfall (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · ur یُورِش (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ka თავდასხმა (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ml ആക്രമണം (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · nn angrep (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · fr attaque (offense of a battle) · ru уда́р (volleyball: hit other than serve or block that sends the ball over the net) · nl aanval (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · pt ataque (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · it attacco (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · hi आक्रमण (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · oc atac (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ky чабуул жасоо (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ka შეტევა (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · ca atac (offense of a battle) · ar هُجُوم m هَجْمَة (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · bg при́стъп (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · cy ymosodiad (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · br argadenn (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · vi sự công kích (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ga aimsiú (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ru штурм (offense of a battle) · sk napadnutie (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · da anfald (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · hu támadás (offense of a battle) · hi प्रहार (offense of a battle) · th การโจมตี (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · nn anfall (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · tg ҳуҷум (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · mi whakatoke (offense of a battle) · id serangan (medicine: sudden onset of a disease) · fr attaque (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · zza hıcum (offense of a battle) · pt ataque (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · ca atac (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · grc προσβολή (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · gd ionnsaigh (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · cs útok (attempt to cause damage, injury, or death) · fa-ira یورِش (offense of a battle)

wikidata: Q4071928

attack en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (General-American) audio
• (General-American) audio
• /əˈtak/ (British, Northern-England, Scotland, Southern, Standard, Wales)
• (Australia) audio
• /əˈtæk/ (Australia, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• /əˈtɛk/ (New-Zealand)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Italian a- Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ ▲ Proto-Indo-European *trísinflu. Proto-Indo-European *d(w)is- Proto-Italic *dis- Latin dis- Old French des- Proto-Indo-European *(s)teyg- Proto-Germanic *stikaną Proto-West Germanic *stekander. Old French atachier Old French destachier Middle French destacherbor. Italian distaccare Italian staccare Italian attaccarebor. French attaquerdeverb. French attaquebor. English attack Borrowed from French attaque, derived from the verb attaquer, from Italian attaccare (“to join, attach”) (used in attaccare battaglia (“to join battle”)), from Frankish *stakkijan (“to stick, stick to, attach”). Doublet of attach. Displaced native Middle English onresen, from Old English onrǣsan (“to attack”); and Middle English resinge (“an assault, attack”) (compare Old English onrǣs (“an attack”)).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To apply violent force to someone or something.
   • Yesterday, December seventh, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. 1941 December 8, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 0:00 from the start, in Day of Infamy Speech, Washington, D.C., page 1:
   • This species of snake will only attack humans if it feels threatened.
2. (transitive) To aggressively challenge a person, idea, etc., with words (particularly in newspaper headlines, because it typesets into less space than "criticize" or similar).
   • It was puzzling to read a column that claimed to be attacking me, yet espoused the main ideas in my article. 1988 December 11, John D'Emilio, “Enemies, Anger, and Militance”, in Gay Community News, volume 16, number 22, page 5:
   • In its God-like prime, The Simpsons attacked well-worn satirical fodder from unexpected angles, finding fresh laughs in the hoariest of subjects. 2012 June 3, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “Mr. Plow” (season 4, episode 9; originally aired 11/19/1992)”, in The A.V. Club, Fusion Media Group:
   • She published an article attacking the recent pay cuts.
3. (transitive) To begin to affect; to act upon injuriously or destructively; to begin to decompose or waste.
   • On the fourth of March he was attacked by fever. 1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XXV, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC:
   • Hydrofluoric acid […] attacks the glass. 1866, Balfour Stewart, An Elementary Treatise on Heat:
4. (transitive) To deal with something in a direct way; to set to work upon.
   • He filled a basin with water, and, with an old brush and piece of sandsoap, attacked the stove. 1922, Joseph Hergesheimer, Mountain Blood:
   • I attacked the meal with a hearty appetite.
   • We’ll have dinner before we attack the biology homework.
5. (transitive) To aim balls at the batsman’s wicket.
6. (intransitive) To set a field, or bowl in a manner designed to get wickets.
7. (intransitive) To bat aggressively, so as to score runs quickly.
8. To move forward in an active attempt to score a point, as opposed to trying not to concede.
   • Six successive defeats had left them rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table but, clearly under instructions to attack from the outset, Bolton started far the brighter. 2011 October 15, Michael Da Silva, “Wigan 1 - 3 Bolton”, in BBC Sport:
9. To accelerate quickly in an attempt to get ahead of the other riders.
10. (physical) (Of a chemical species) To approach a chemical species or bond in order to form a bond with it.

Forms

Antonyms

defend

Deriveds

attackable · unattackable · unattacked · attackee · reattack

Hyponyms

surprisal · bomb · cut · punch down · stab · ambush · revile · shoot · defame · pounce · jump

Relateds

harm · fight

Synonyms

light into · storm · come down on · beleaguer · beat · strike · abuse · pound · whap · dust up · assail · beset · rush · bepommel · set upon · savage · charge · overrun · pommel · lay into · let someone have it · strike at · lay siege · assault · fall upon · wap · besiege · aggress · invade · onset · hit · fall on · attack · onfall · set the dogs upon · bombard · impugn

Translations (190)

ru напа́сть (to apply violent force) · my ရန်ပြု (to apply violent force) · te దాడి చేయు (to apply violent force) · gl atacar (to apply violent force) · ru напада́ть (to aggressively challenge with words) · mk напаѓа (to apply violent force) · sk útočiť (to apply violent force) · de angreifen (to aggressively challenge with words) · zza hıcum kerden (to apply violent force) · hu nekimegy (to apply violent force) · fi käydä käsiksi (to deal with something undesirable in a direct way) · be атакава́ць (to apply violent force) · nrf attatchi (to aggressively challenge with words) · ka შეტევა (to apply violent force) · wa ataker (to aggressively challenge with words) · tg ҳамла кардан (to apply violent force) · sv attackera (to apply violent force) · mk атакува (to apply violent force) · fi käydä kimppuun (to deal with something undesirable in a direct way) · tr saldırmak (to apply violent force) · lt atakuoti (to apply violent force) · it attaccare (soccer: to move forward in an attempt to score point) · gl atacar (to aggressively challenge with words) · mi pāha (to apply violent force) · grc ἐπορούω (to apply violent force) · cmn 打擊 /打击 (to apply violent force) · eo ataki (to apply violent force) · ca atacar (to apply violent force) · uk напа́сти (to apply violent force) · bg атаку́вам (to apply violent force) · sh на̀пасти (to apply violent force) · he הִתְקִיף (to apply violent force) · cy cyrchu (to apply violent force) · vo tatakön (to apply violent force) · cmn 進攻 /进攻 (to apply violent force) · fi hyökätä (to apply violent force) · nl aanvallen (to aggressively challenge with words) · cu напасти (to apply violent force) · ga ionsaigh (to apply violent force) · ka თავდასხმა (to apply violent force) · nl aanvallen (to apply violent force) · pl napadać (to aggressively challenge with words) · cmn 攻擊 /攻击 (to aggressively challenge with words) · oc atacar (to apply violent force) · pl zaatakować (to aggressively challenge with words) · mn довтлох (to apply violent force) · fr attaquer (to apply violent force) · sv anfalla (soccer: to move forward in an attempt to score point) · pt atacar (to aggressively challenge with words) · hu támad (to apply violent force) · ms menyerang (to apply violent force) · ru атакова́ть (to apply violent force) · ko 공격하다 (to apply violent force) · hy գրոհել (to apply violent force) · cs útočit (to apply violent force) · frr uungribe (to apply violent force) · zza gur kerden (to apply violent force) · sh nàpadati (to apply violent force) · fi käydä kimppuun (to aggressively challenge with words) · ga ionsaigh (soccer: to move forward in an attempt to score point) · sv attackera (to aggressively challenge with words) · pl napaść (to aggressively challenge with words) · kea agridi (to apply violent force) · fi kritisoida (to aggressively challenge with words) · wa hushtiner (to aggressively challenge with words) · hi आक्रमण करना (to apply violent force) · de attackieren (to apply violent force) · fr attaquer (soccer: to move forward in an attempt to score point) · lo ໂຈມຕີ (to apply violent force) · pl atakować (cricket: to aim balls at the batsman’s wicket) · es atacar (to apply violent force) · lv uzbrukt (to apply violent force) · de attackieren (to aggressively challenge with words) · sv angripa (to aggressively challenge with words) · th โจมตี (to apply violent force) · et halvustama (to aggressively challenge with words) · az basqın etmək (to apply violent force) · bg нападам (to aggressively challenge with words) · hy հարձակվել (to apply violent force) · te దండెత్తు (to apply violent force) · kea agredí (to apply violent force) · pl atakować (cricket: to bat aggressively) · da overfalde (to apply violent force) · et ründama (to apply violent force) · pl zaatakować (cricket: to aim balls at the batsman’s wicket) · fy oanfalle (to aggressively challenge with words) · mi whakatorotoro (to apply violent force) · mk нападне (to apply violent force) · pl zaatakować (cricket: to set a field, or bowl in a manner designed to get wickets) · bg напа́дам (to apply violent force) · pt atacar (to apply violent force) · non sǿkja (to apply violent force) · pl napaść (to apply violent force) · fi hyökätä (soccer: to move forward in an attempt to score point) · ro ataca (to apply violent force) · bg нахвърлям се (to aggressively challenge with words) · wa årgouwer (to aggressively challenge with words) · ru критикова́ть (to aggressively challenge with words) · fy oanfalle (to apply violent force) · sk napadnúť (to apply violent force) · da angribe (to apply violent force) · cy ymosod ar (to apply violent force) · wa atouwer (to aggressively challenge with words) · fr apostropher (to aggressively challenge with words) · pl zaatakować (to apply violent force) · el επιτίθεμαι (to aggressively challenge with words) · pl atakować (to aggressively challenge with words) · sq sulmoj (to apply violent force) · pl atakować (soccer: to move forward in an attempt to score point) · nrf attatchi (to apply violent force) · ckb تێبەربوون (to apply violent force) · fr invectiver (to aggressively challenge with words) · la aggredior (to apply violent force) · kk шабуыл жасау (to apply violent force) · ja 攻撃する (to apply violent force) · it aggredire (to apply violent force) · nod ᨮᩣᩴᩁ᩶ᩤ᩠ᨿ (to apply violent force) · cmn 攻擊 /攻击 (to apply violent force) · fi hyökätä (cricket: to bat aggressively) · sh nàpasti (to apply violent force) · chy -a'eotse (to apply violent force) · kw omsettya (to apply violent force) · ru напада́ть (to apply violent force) · wa ataker (to apply violent force) · pl atakować (cricket: to set a field, or bowl in a manner designed to get wickets) · eo ataki (to aggressively challenge with words) · ar هَاجَمَ (to apply violent force) · lo ທຳຮ້າຍ (to apply violent force) · sh на̀падати (to apply violent force) · br argadiñ (to apply violent force) · es atacar (soccer: to move forward in an attempt to score point) · ta தாக்கு (to aggressively challenge with words) · el καταπιάνομαι (to aggressively challenge with words) · zza gur biyen (to apply violent force) · nod ᨧᩰᩫ᩠ᨾᨲᩦ (to apply violent force) · uz hamla qilmoq (to apply violent force) · wa ataker (soccer: to move forward in an attempt to score point) · fi arvostella (to aggressively challenge with words) · ko 돌격하다 (to apply violent force) · hy արշավել (to apply violent force) · fi hyökätä (to aggressively challenge with words) · de angreifen (to apply violent force) · mn дайрах (to apply violent force) · fi käydä kimppuun (to apply violent force) · fa حمله کردن (to apply violent force) · ta தாக்கு (to apply violent force) · km កន្លុក (to apply violent force) · tg ҳуҷум кардан (to apply violent force) · vo tatakön (to aggressively challenge with words) · la impetō (to apply violent force) · fi käydä päälle (to apply violent force) · pl zaatakować (soccer: to move forward in an attempt to score point) · uz hujum qilmoq (to apply violent force) · ru напа́сть (to aggressively challenge with words) · uk атакува́ти (to apply violent force) · az hücum etmək (to apply violent force) · gd thoir ionnsaigh (to apply violent force) · grc προσβάλλω (to apply violent force) · gv soiaghey er (to apply violent force) · gd thoir ionnsaigh (to aggressively challenge with words) · eo agresi (to apply violent force) · sk pustiť sa do (to deal with something undesirable in a direct way) · it assalire (to apply violent force) · eu eraso (to apply violent force) · vi công kích (to apply violent force) · fi käydä käsiksi (to apply violent force) · pl napadać (to apply violent force) · es atacar (to aggressively challenge with words) · be напада́ць (to apply violent force) · ang rǣsan (to apply violent force) · fr attaquer (to aggressively challenge with words) · ml ആക്രമിക്കുക (to apply violent force) · cs útočit (to aggressively challenge with words) · pl zaatakować (cricket: to bat aggressively) · uk напада́ти (to apply violent force) · la incessō (to apply violent force) · be напа́сці (to apply violent force) · el επιτίθεμαι (to apply violent force) · da angribe (to aggressively challenge with words) · hu megtámad (to apply violent force) · pl atakować (to apply violent force) · sl napasti (to aggressively challenge with words) · ca atacar (to aggressively challenge with words) · sk útočiť (to aggressively challenge with words) · fa هجوم آوردن (to apply violent force) · lt pulti (to apply violent force) · sv anfalla (to apply violent force) · eo agresi (to aggressively challenge with words) · sl napasti (to apply violent force) · mi taiapu (to apply violent force)