Pronunciations (4)
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/əˈtæk/
Pronunciation notes
- Australia
- General-American
- Received-Pronunciation
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/əˈtak/
Pronunciation notes
- British
- Northern-England
- Scotland
- Southern
- Standard
- Wales
-
/əˈtɛk/
Pronunciation notes
- New-Zealand
-
əˈtæk
Pronunciation notes
- US
Noun
An attempt to cause damage, injury to, or death of an opponent or enemy.
- Examples
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From 1906 to 1960, there were forty-six recorded shark attacks, half of which were fatal.
More examples (1)
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.
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.
- Examples
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More examples (2)
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.
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.
An attempt to detract from the worth or credibility of, a person, position, idea, object, or thing, by physical, verbal, emotional, or other assault.
- Examples
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More examples (1)
“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. …”
They claimed the censorship of the article was an attack on free speech.
A time in which one attacks; the offence of a battle.
- Examples
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The army timed their attack to coincide with the local celebrations.
The beginning of active operations on anything.
Usage- broadly
- Informal
- Examples
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Having washed the plates from dinner, I made an attack on the laundry.
An attempt to exploit a vulnerability in a computer system.
- Examples
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birthday attack; denial-of-service attack
Collectively, the bowlers of a cricket side.
Any contact with the ball other than a serve or block which sends the ball across the plane of the net.
The three attackmen on the field or all the attackmen of a team.
The sudden onset of a disease or condition.
- Examples
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I've had an attack of the flu.
An active episode of a chronic or recurrent disease.
The onset of a musical note, particularly with respect to the strength (and duration) of that onset.
- Examples
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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, […]
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).
The initial sensory impact of a wine.
Verb
To apply violent force to someone or something.
Usage- Transitive
- Synonyms
- Examples
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This species of snake will only attack humans if it feels threatened.
More examples (1)
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.
To aggressively challenge a person, idea, etc., with words (particularly in newspaper headlines, because it typesets into less space than "criticize" or similar).
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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She published an article attacking the recent pay cuts.
It was puzzling to read a column that claimed to be attacking me, yet espoused the main ideas in my article.
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In its God-like prime, The Simpsons attacked well-worn satirical fodder from unexpected angles, finding fresh laughs in the hoariest of subjects.
To begin to affect; to act upon injuriously or destructively; to begin to decompose or waste.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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On the fourth of March he was attacked by fever.
Hydrofluoric acid […] attacks the glass.
To deal with something in a direct way; to set to work upon.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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We’ll have dinner before we attack the biology homework.
I attacked the meal with a hearty appetite.
More examples (1)
He filled a basin with water, and, with an old brush and piece of sandsoap, attacked the stove.
To aim balls at the batsman’s wicket.
Usage- Transitive
To set a field, or bowl in a manner designed to get wickets.
Usage- Intransitive
To bat aggressively, so as to score runs quickly.
Usage- Intransitive
To move forward in an active attempt to score a point, as opposed to trying not to concede.
- Examples
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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.
To accelerate quickly in an attempt to get ahead of the other riders.
(Of a chemical species) To approach a chemical species or bond in order to form a bond with it.
Usage- physical
Adjective
Designed or kept for the purpose of confrontation.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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attack dog, attack ad
Noun
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the attack began at dawn
an offensive move in a sport or game
- Examples
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they won the game with a 10-hit attack in the 9th inning
intense adverse criticism
- Broader terms
- Examples
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Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party
the government has come under attack
More examples (1)
don't give me any flak
ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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his approach to every problem is to draw up a list of pros and cons
an attack on inflation
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his plan of attack was misguided
the act of attacking
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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attacks on women increased last year
they made an attempt on his life
a decisive manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition
- Broader terms
- Examples
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an attack of diarrhea
the onset of a corrosive or destructive process (as by a chemical agent)
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the film was sensitive to attack by acids
open to attack by the elements
strong criticism
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he published an unexpected attack on my work
Verb
launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Examples
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Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II
Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week
attack in speech or writing
- Broader terms
- Examples
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The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker
take the initiative and go on the offensive
- Synonyms
- Examples
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The Serbs attacked the village at night
The visiting team started to attack
attack someone physically or emotionally
- Examples
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The mugger assaulted the woman
Nightmares assailed him regularly
set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task
- Examples
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I attacked the problem as soon as I got out of bed
begin to injure
- Broader terms
- Examples
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The cancer cells are attacking his liver
Rust is attacking the metal