assault

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 [U,C] ~ (on / upon sb) the crime of attacking sb physically: Both men were charged with assault. * A significant number of indecent assaults on women go unreported. * sexual assaults 2 [C] ~ (on / upon / against sb/sth) (by an army, etc.) the act of attacking a building, an area, etc. in order to take control of it: An assault on the capital was launched in the early hours of the morning. 3 [C] ~ (on / upon sth) the act of trying to achieve sth that is difficult or dangerous: The government has mounted a new assault on unemployment (= in order to reduce it). * Three people died during an assault on the mountain (= while trying to climb it). 4 [C] ~ (on / upon / against sb/sth) an act of criticizing sb/sth severely: The paper's assault on the president was totally unjustified. * The suggested closures came under assault from all parties. verb [VN] 1 to attack sb violently, especially when this is a crime: He has been charged with assaulting a police officer. * Four women have been sexually assaulted in the area recently. 2 (formal) to affect your senses in a way that is very unpleasant or uncomfortable: Loud rock music assaulted our ears.