attack definition

1. (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
• examples: the attack began at dawn
2. an offensive move in a sport or game
• examples: they won the game with a 10-hit attack in the 9th inning
3. the act of attacking
• examples: attacks on women increased last year
• examples: they made an attempt on his life
4. a decisive manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase
5. a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition
• examples: an attack of diarrhea
6. the onset of a corrosive or destructive process (as by a chemical agent)
• examples: the film was sensitive to attack by acids
• examples: open to attack by the elements
7. strong criticism
• examples: he published an unexpected attack on my work
8. launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
• examples: Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II
• examples: Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week
9. attack in speech or writing
• examples: The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker
10. take the initiative and go on the offensive
• examples: The Serbs attacked the village at night
• examples: The visiting team started to attack
11. set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task
• examples: I attacked the problem as soon as I got out of bed
12. begin to injure
• examples: The cancer cells are attacking his liver
• examples: Rust is attacking the metal