Definitions for attack

Definitions for (noun) attack

Main entry: attack, tone-beginning

Definition: a decisive manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase


Main entry: attack

Definition: an offensive move in a sport or game

Usage: they won the game with a 10-hit attack in the 9th inning


Main entry: attack, attempt

Definition: the act of attacking

Usage: attacks on women increased last year; they made an attempt on his life


Main entry: approach, attack, plan of attack

Definition: ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation

Usage: his approach to every problem is to draw up a list of pros and cons; an attack on inflation; his plan of attack was misguided


Main entry: onrush, onset, onslaught, attack

Definition: (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)

Usage: the attack began at dawn


Main entry: attack

Definition: strong criticism

Usage: he published an unexpected attack on my work


Main entry: fire, flack, flak, attack, blast

Definition: intense adverse criticism

Usage: Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party; the government has come under attack; don't give me any flak


Main entry: attack

Definition: the onset of a corrosive or destructive process (as by a chemical agent)

Usage: the film was sensitive to attack by acids; open to attack by the elements


Main entry: attack

Definition: a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition

Usage: an attack of diarrhea


Definitions for (verb) attack

Main entry: attack

Definition: begin to injure

Usage: The cancer cells are attacking his liver; Rust is attacking the metal


Main entry: attack

Definition: set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task

Usage: I attacked the problem as soon as I got out of bed


Main entry: snipe, round, assail, assault, attack, lash out

Definition: attack in speech or writing

Usage: The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker


Main entry: aggress, attack

Definition: take the initiative and go on the offensive

Usage: The Serbs attacked the village at night; The visiting team started to attack


Main entry: assail, attack

Definition: launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with

Usage: Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II; Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week


Main entry: set on, assail, assault, attack

Definition: attack someone physically or emotionally

Usage: The mugger assaulted the woman; Nightmares assailed him regularly


Visual thesaurus for attack