attack

Sense 1 noun

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

the attack began at dawn

Sense 2 verb

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

Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II

Sense 3 noun

an offensive move in a sport or game

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

Sense 4 verb

attack in speech or writing

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

Sense 5 noun

intense adverse criticism

Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party

Sense 6 verb

take the initiative and go on the offensive

The Serbs attacked the village at night

Sense 7 noun

ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation

his approach to every problem is to draw up a list of pros and cons

Sense 8 verb

attack someone physically or emotionally

The mugger assaulted the woman

Sense 9 noun

the act of attacking

attacks on women increased last year

Sense 10 verb

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

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

Sense 11 noun

a decisive manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase

Sense 12 verb

begin to injure

The cancer cells are attacking his liver

Sense 13 noun

a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition

an attack of diarrhea

Sense 14 noun

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

the film was sensitive to attack by acids

Sense 15 noun

strong criticism

he published an unexpected attack on my work