attack

at|tack¹ W1S2 [əˈtæk] n

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1¦(violence against somebody/something)¦

2¦(in a war)¦

3¦(criticism)¦

4¦(illness)¦

5¦(emotion)¦

6¦(attempt to stop something)¦

7¦(sport)¦

8¦(damage)¦

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1.) ¦(VIOLENCE AGAINST SOMEBODY/SOMETHING)¦

an act of violence that is intended to hurt a person or damage a place

attack on

▪ There have been several attacks on foreigners recently.

▪ a bomb attack

▪ a knife attack

▪ an arson attack (=an attempt to destroy a building using fire)

▪ victims of racial attacks

2.) ¦(IN A WAR)¦ [U and C]

the act of using weapons against an enemy in a war

▪ The attack began at dawn.

attack on

▪ the attack on Pearl Harbor

be/come under attack

▪ Once again we came under attack from enemy fighter planes.

▪ Rebel forces launched (=started) an attack late Sunday night.

air/missile/nuclear etc attack

▪ the threat of nuclear attack

3.) ¦(CRITICISM)¦ [U and C]

a strong and direct criticism of someone or something

attack on

▪ The magazine recently published a vicious personal attack on the novelist.

be/come under attack

(=be strongly criticized)

▪ The company has come under fierce attack for its decision to close the factory.

go on the attack

(=start to criticize someone severely)

4.) ¦(ILLNESS)¦

a sudden short period of suffering from an illness, especially an illness that you have often

attack of

▪ I had a bad attack of flu at Christmas.

▪ He died after suffering a severe asthma attack .

→↑heart attack

5.) ¦(EMOTION)¦

a short period of time when you suddenly feel extremely frightened or worried and cannot think normally or deal with the situation

panic/anxiety attack

▪ Her heart began to pound frantically, as if she were having a panic attack.

attack of

▪ a sudden attack of nerves

6.) ¦(ATTEMPT TO STOP SOMETHING)¦ [U and C]

actions that are intended to get rid of or stop something such as a system, a set of laws etc

attack on

▪ The new measures were seen by many as an attack on the Scottish way of life.

7.) ¦(SPORT)¦

a) [U and C]

an attempt by a player or group of players to score ↑goals or win points

b) BrE [singular]

the players in a team that are responsible for trying to score ↑goals or win points

American Equivalent: offense

→↑defence in attack

▪ Heath will play alongside Smith in attack.

8.) ¦(DAMAGE)¦ [U and C]

when something such as a disease, insect, or chemical damages something

▪ Unfortunately, the carved ceilings have suffered woodworm attack over the years.

attack ²

attack² W2S2 v

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1¦(use violence)¦

2¦(in a war)¦

3¦(criticize)¦

4¦(damage)¦

5¦(begin doing)¦

6¦(sport)¦

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[Date: 1600-1700; : French; Origin: attaquer, from Old Italian attaccare 'to attach', from stacca 'sharp post']

1.) ¦(USE VIOLENCE)¦ [I and T]

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 sb/sth with sth

▪ He needed 200 stitches after being attacked with a broken bottle.

2.) ¦(IN A WAR)¦ [I and T]

to start using guns, bombs etc against an enemy in a war

▪ Army tanks attacked a village near the capital on Sunday.

3.) ¦(CRITICIZE)¦ [T]

to criticize someone or something very strongly

▪ Last year Dr Travis publicly attacked the idea that abortion should be available on demand.

attack sb for (doing) sth

▪ Newspapers attacked the government for failing to cut taxes.

strongly/bitterly/savagely etc attack sb/sth

4.) ¦(DAMAGE)¦ [T]

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)¦ [T]

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)¦ [I and T]

to move forward and try to score ↑goals or win points

→↑defend

▪ Brazil began to attack more in the second half of the match.