attack

Universal Words noun, verb noun violence 1 [C,U] ~ (on sb) an act of using violence to try to hurt or kill sb: a series of racist attacks * A child is recovering in hospital after a serious attack by a stray dog. in war 2 [C,U] ~ (on sb/sth) an act of trying to kill or injure the enemy in war, using weapons such as guns and bombs: to launch / make / mount an attack * The patrol came under attack from all sides. seealsoCOUNTER-ATTACK criticism 3 [C,U] ~ (on sb/sth) strong criticism of sb/sth in speech or in writing: a scathing attack on the government's policies * The school has come under attack for failing to encourage bright pupils. action to stop sth 4 [C] ~ (on sth) an action that you take to try to stop or change sth that you feel is bad: to launch an all-out attack on poverty / unemployment / smoking of illness 5 [C] a sudden, short period of illness, usually severe, especially an illness that you have often: to suffer an asthma / migraine attack * an acute attack of food poisoning * a panic attack * (figurative) an attack of the giggles seealsoHEARTATTACK of emotion 6 [C] a sudden period of feeling an emotion such as fear: an attack of nerves damage 7 [U,C] the action of sth such as an insect, or a disease, that causes damage to sth/sb: The roof timbers were affected by rot and insect attack. in sport 8 [sing.] (BrE) (AmE offense) the players in a team whose job is to try to score goals or points: Germany's attack has been weakened by the loss of some key players through injury. compareDEFENCE 9 [C,U] the actions that players take to try to score a goal or win the game: a sustained attack on the Arsenal goal verb use violence 1 to use violence to try to hurt or kill sb: [VN] [oftenpassive] A woman was attacked and robbed by a gang of youths. * The man attacked him with a knife. * [V] Most dogs will not attack unless provoked. in war 2 to use weapons, such as guns and bombs against an enemy in a war, etc: [VN] At dawn the army attacked the town. * [V] The guerrillas usually attack at night. criticize 3 [VN] ~ sb/sth (for sth / for doing sth) to criticize sb/sth severely: a newspaper article attacking the England football manager * She has been attacked for ignoring her own party members. damage 4 [VN] to have a harmful effect on sth: a disease that attacks the brain * The vines had been attacked by mildew. do sth with energy 5 [VN] to deal with sth with a lot of energy and determination: Let's attack one problem at a time. in sport 6 [V] to go forward in a game in order to try to score goals or points: Spain attacked more in the second half and deserved a goal.