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| at·tack [ ə ták ] |
verb (past and past participle at·tacked, present participle at·tack·ing, 3rd person present singular at·tacks) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb harm using violence: to use violence to try to harm somebody or to defeat an enemy or capture an enemy position
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2. transitive verb criticize somebody or something: to subject somebody or something to strong or vehement criticism
  The press has repeatedly attacked his plan.
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3. transitive and intransitive verb infect somebody or damage something: to cause an infection, illness, or damage in somebody or something
The disease can attack at any age.
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4. transitive verb make vigorous start on something: to begin something such as work with enthusiasm or determination and deal vigorously with it
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5. transitive and intransitive verb try to win: to attempt to defeat, or score against, an opponent in a competition or team sport
The chess game began sluggishly, with both sides slow to attack.
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noun (plural at·tacks) |
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| Definition: |
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1. action of attacking: the process or an instance of attacking
The proposals have come under attack.
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2. bout of illness: an occurrence of something such as a medical disorder that is temporarily debilitating
an attack of asthma
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3. attacking members of team: the offensive players on a team, especially the forwards on a soccer team
(
takes a singular verb
)
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4. music energetic way of playing: the decisive or energetic way in which a musician begins to play a piece or passage
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| [Early 17th century. Via French attaquer< Italian attacare battaglia "join battle"] |
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| at·tack·er noun |
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