attack: Meaning and Definition of

at•tack

Pronunciation: (u-tak'), [key]
— v.t.
  1. to set upon in a forceful, violent, hostile, or aggressive way, with or without a weapon; begin fighting with: He attacked him with his bare hands.
  2. to begin hostilities against; start an offensive against: to attack the enemy.
  3. to blame or abuse violently or bitterly.
  4. to direct unfavorable criticism against; criticize severely; argue with strongly: He attacked his opponent's statement.
  5. to try to destroy, esp. with verbal abuse: to attack the mayor's reputation.
  6. to set about (a task) or go to work on (a thing) vigorously: to attack housecleaning; to attack the hamburger hungrily.
  7. (of disease, destructive agencies, etc.) to begin to affect.
—v.i.
  1. to make an attack; begin hostilities.
—n.
  1. the act of attacking; onslaught; assault.
  2. a military offensive against an enemy or enemy position.
  3. seizure by disease or illness: an attack of indigestion.
  4. the beginning or initiating of any action; onset.
  5. an aggressive move in a performance or contest.
  6. the approach or manner of approach in beginning a musical phrase.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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