ambush

Universal Words noun, verb noun [C,U] the act of hiding and waiting for sb and then making a surprise attack on them: Two soldiers were killed in a terrorist ambush. * They were lying in ambush, waiting for the aid convoy. * The government was defeated in its attempt to pass the law by an opposition ambush. verb [VN] to make a surprise attack on sb/sth from a hidden position: The guerrillas ambushed them near the bridge. * (figurative) She was ambushed by reporters and cameramen.