1Take aggressive action against (a place or enemy forces) with weapons or armed force, typically in a battle or war.

1. 1.1 (of a person or animal) act against (someone or something) aggressively in an attempt to injure or kill.
   a doctor was attacked by two youths

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The wife of a York man who nearly died after being savagely attacked by a gang of youths has publicly thanked the people who saved her husband's life.
   • Police said the man was shot and killed when he attempted to attack police.
   • An unnamed woman was attacked and killed by a crocodile while crossing the Enseleni River north of Empangeni early yesterday morning.
   • Khadse made headlines when he was brought in to trap panthers after 13 people were attacked and killed by the animals.
   • He was brutally killed by thieves who attacked him at his home in Belmont.
   • Another incident occurred in September, when a married couple were killed after they were attacked by an elephant in Pandan Wangi, Indragiri regency, Riau.
   • We realised that it must have been the same person who killed Tammy who also attacked you.
   • However, on a number of occasions in 1999 and 2000 their dogs attacked his animals and killed 22 of them.
   • He was on holiday in Venezuela with his wife when he was attacked and killed.
   • Dolphins, however, are known to kill sharks by attacking their soft bellies with hard blows from their beaks.
   • They also claimed the family's Rottweiler dog had attacked another dog, killed one woman's cat and gone for another woman in the street leaving her shaken up.
   • The Plaintiff's daughter was attacked and killed by him.
   • There I spoke to a woman whose mother was attacked and injured by a Komodo dragon - which raised the issue of humans as prey.
   • He was attacked, killed and later thrown into the river.
   • He shivered inside when he recalled the coolness with which she had said that she had killed the woman who attacked her.
   • But immediately after the elections violence broke out and several houses were set on fire and people were attacked and killed.
   • One outdoor magazine recently documented the case of a man who killed a bear that attacked him.
   • A plumber named Joe is attacked and killed in the basement, and a long dead corpse is discovered.
   • She also assured us that the jaguar is not a man-eater - in fact there are no recorded cases of a person being attacked or killed by a jaguar in an unprovoked situation.
   • A brave Whitefield man has told how he fought off two thugs who attacked him as they attempted to steal his high-performance Mini.
   • I have a friend who was nearly killed when he was attacked in his apartment with knives from his kitchen, so I understand what the researchers are trying to do here.

   Synonyms

   assault, beat, beat up, batter, thrash, pound, pummel, assail, set upon, fall upon, set about, strike at, let fly at, tear into, lash out at, aggress
2. 1.2 (of a disease, chemical substance, or insect) act harmfully on.
   the disease is thought to attack certain cells in the brain

   Example sentencesExamples

   • MS is an incurable disease that attacks the central nervous system causing severe disability.
   • Richard died from the rare degenerative disease which attacks the central nervous system.
   • The disease had attacked her liver and she slipped into a coma.
   • The lack of nutrients in the white-sand soil means that plants cannot afford to be attacked by insects, because lost leaf tissue is difficult to replace.
   • In 1999 he was diagnosed as being HIV positive, and now, to fight the deadly disease attacking his immune system, he takes drugs to keep himself alive.
   • The trees have been attacked by a bacterial disease known as fire blight.
   • Now suffering from lupus, a cruel disease which attacks the body's immune system, she has a quick wit and air of irreverence that still make her a delight to interview.
   • The disease attacks the liver and can be fatal in a small number of cases.
   • She said the life-threatening condition developed when her own antibodies attacked the baby's blood cells.
   • Leaves attacked by insects or disease, on the other hand, die under duress, spotted and curled.
   • BSE is almost impossible to distinguish from scrapie, a disease attacking the brain of sheep.
   • Ironically, when a tree is attacked by insects, it releases certain compounds which some insects actually use to their advantage.
   • The disease usually attacks the lungs but can affect almost any part of the body and is usually curable with an intensive six-month course of antibiotics.
   • The unknown disease attacked over 200 people gathered for an American Legion convention in Philadelphia.
   • Fungal diseases can attack shoots and leaves but also developing bunches and ripe fruit.
   • It attacks only grapevines, and kills vines by attacking their roots.
   • Relieving stress made sense to me because in my work I had seen that plants under stress were the ones most likely to be attacked by diseases and pests.
   • Larvae of the grape root borer attack the larger roots and crown of grapevines.
   • Parkinson's disease attacks and destroys these nerve cells, meaning the brain is starved of dopamine.
   • The disease attacks the macula - an area of the retina at the back of the eye that houses light-sensing cells.
   • Sudden oak death is the snappy title which has been given to a devastating fungal disease attacking oaks and other native shrubs throughout North America.
   • Autoimmune diseases result when the immune system attacks the body's own organs, tissues and cells.

   Synonyms

   affect, have an effect on, strike, strike at, take hold of, infect
3. 1.3 Criticize or oppose fiercely and publicly.
   he attacked the government's defense policy

   Example sentencesExamples

   • But plans to house the turbines at Pool Hill, near Kitchenroyd, have been fiercely attacked by residents.
   • Fully aware of the situation, he is fiercely attacking the administration for its pro-business stances and special-interest politics.
   • This is not the first time a controversial film has been attacked before its critics have seen a single frame.
   • In 1818 he attacked Coleridge savagely in a magazine edited by his son-in-law.
   • Owenson's status as a professional woman writer was constantly abused by contemporary male reviewers, who savagely attacked everything she wrote.
   • Leuthner was fiercely attacked for his theses at the time by social democratic leader Karl Kautsky.
   • But critics have attacked the BBC for lavishing public money on non-programming activities at a time of massive cost-cutting in the organisation.
   • Vettriano now lives in London after selling his Edinburgh home last year claiming he was sick of being attacked by Scottish art critics.
   • In 1892 the lifelong friendship between Lie and Klein broke down and the following year Lie publicly attacked Klein.
   • Viciously attacked by critics and rejected by the public, the Impressionist painters were outcasts in the art world.
   • He was fiercely attacked, and even some figures who privately sympathized with his views were too cowed to defend him publicly.
   • Jiao had fiercely attacked the Ministry of Propaganda as an out-of-date dinosaur.
   • Prominent candidates attacked each other fiercely.
   • And I've relied on that audience response ever since, to buoy me through periods when I've been attacked by critics.
   • Similarly, Woods is attacked for fiercely defending his privacy.
   • The play was fiercely attacked by critics and made headline news in the tabloids.
   • Failure to recruit enough doctors and nurses has been criticised in a report attacking west Wiltshire health bosses.
   • He recently attacked a German political critic by likening him to a Nazi commandant.
   • His response to the disaster of the war is to attack those who opposed the war.
   • She is now making a television programme which attacks those who oppose fox hunting.

   Synonyms

   criticize, censure, condemn, castigate, chastise, lambaste, pillory, savage, find fault with, fulminate against, abuse
4. 1.4 Begin to deal with (a problem or task) in a determined and vigorous way.
   a plan of action to attack unemployment

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Is there something that you would suggest be put in place that would begin to attack that problem?
   • Overnight some of the mail team began attacking the problem.
   • We need to start preparing for the worst and need to attack this issue with the verve and urgency that people had in the last campaign.
   • He said that drugs have always been a problem and the only way you attack a problem is head on.
   • If we truly want to effect change on an aging business practice and culture, we need to attack the problem from both within and without.

   Synonyms

   attend to, address, see to, deal with, grapple with, confront, direct one's attention to, focus on, concentrate on, apply oneself to
5. 1.5British no object Make an aggressive or forceful attempt to score a goal or point, or gain or exploit an advantage in a game against an opposing team or player.
   the home team attacked from the kick off

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The problem is that goals and attacking play are sometimes unrelated concepts.
   • The red team was attacking very well, but the blue goalkeeper held them out I think.
   • Duff attacks down the left wing, but his ball is headed away by Sulimani.
   • England scored in the first half, then tried to defend the advantage in the second half, but Brazil attacked well and scored twice.
   • However, sloppy tackling gave the visitors their first chance to attack and they duly scored a well-worked try.
   • Bima said that the team would attack in the early minutes and would try to score goals from counter attacks.
   • The crowds get excited when their teams attack - even when they are winning.
   • But Ireland attacked and got the goal their efforts deserved in 33 minutes with a lovely move.
   • It's being played at a terrific pace by two teams intent on attacking.
   • We didn't want to attack too much because it would be crazy to lose the ball and let them score a goal.
   • Their three goals scored showed the attacking capability that they have.
   • Again both players were attacking and probing for possible weak points.
   • Instead of trying to tell the players how to attack, he gave them more freedom.
   • Both goals were scored by attacking midfielder Declan Reilly.
   • As the match drew to a close both teams attacked vigorously in search of the winner, but poor finishing let them down.
   • Poland have started well, attacking up both flanks.
   • The Saints upped the temperature as they began to attack relentlessly.
   • Inter have done more attacking in the opening eight minutes than I've seen them do in all their matches this season.
   • Silsden then became over-confident with too many players wanting to attack.
   • They have enough attacking flair to score goals, with the likes of Beckham, Giggs, Cole and Sherringham.
6. 1.6Chess Move into or be in a position to capture (an opponent's piece).
   Example sentencesExamples

   • A Queen move which attacks a guarded pawn is not usually a threat since taking the pawn next move usually results in loss of material.
   • No matter how many times he attacks the pawn, White can defend.
   • But this resulted in the immediate loss of a piece as Adams took a pawn with his bishop attacking the black queen.
   • He has a very active queen, good knight against bad bishop and White's exposed pawns to attack.
   • The piece is instantly trappable - usually that means it can be attacked by a piece of lesser value and has no safe way to retreat.
7. 1.7Chemistry (of a reagent or reactive species) approach and interact with (an atom, group, or bond in a molecule), thereby breaking a bond or forming a new bond.
   the nucleophile attacks the epoxide from the opposite side of the ring to the oxygen

1An aggressive and violent action against a person or place.

1. 1.1 Destructive action by a disease, chemical, or insect.
   the tissue is open to attack by fungus

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Potatoes, particularly varieties grown for seed, are treated with insecticide to control attack from aphids.
   • Its affinity for oxygen makes it resistant to corrosion and attack by most chemicals.
   • A good friend has pointed out to me that, in her country, to combat insect attacks on citrus fruits, they have used sprays containing organophosphorus.
   • Biological plant protection measures were taken to prevent insect attack on plants.
   • Second, look at the underlying cause related to the pest or disease attack.
   • Growing in dense thickets, it becomes vulnerable over time to attacks from insects and disease.
   • Communication of aphid attack between plants has recently been shown to involve other volatiles.
   • Helps plants withstand attacks by disease and insects by enhancing naturally occurring microbial agents.
   • The ants move the aphids to fresh parts of the plant, and they protect them from attack by other insects.
2. 1.2 A sudden short bout of an illness or stress.
   an attack of nausea

   an asthma attack

   Example sentencesExamples

   • When a person has asthma, an attack can be started by a number of different things.
   • The best way to prevent asthma attacks is to identify and avoid indoor and outdoor allergens and irritants.
   • For the thousands of people who have trigeminal neuralgia, attacks of such pain are frequent and can often seem unbearable.
   • There was a past history of migraine attacks and bouts of coughing.
   • They are commonly used for relieving sudden attacks of asthma and preventing exercise-induced asthma.
   • A sudden attack of viral encephalitis left him in a deep coma with a dire prognosis.
   • Collins suffered from severe attacks of a rheumatic illness which caused him great pain, only relieved by the use of opium.
   • Some people with asthma never have a severe attack, only a little wheezing or the occasional bout of coughing.
   • The type of treatment that is given depends on how often the asthma attacks occur and how bad the symptoms are.
   • Many medications are currently available to relieve the symptoms of acute migraine attacks.
   • Patients with acute cholecystitis may have a history of attacks of biliary colic or they may have been asymptomatic until the presenting episode.
   • Several treatments are available to help make the attacks shorter and less severe.
   • Short but recurrent attacks of vertigo are often caused by benign positional vertigo.
   • The illness results in recurrent attacks of chills and fever and can be deadly.
   • The weather is so depressing that I am convinced it is the reason behind my sudden attack of vomiting.
   • Most doctors will start chronic treatment of epilepsy if two or more attacks occur in a short interval.
   • There may be attacks of sudden breathlessness during the night.
   • An attack of rheumatic fever may last for six weeks or longer.
   • All these triggers can irritate the airways in your lungs, making an asthma attack more likely.
   • Poorly cleaned heating systems also contribute to asthma and allergy attacks in the fall and winter, say researchers.
   • Sudden attacks lasting for a few days with symptom-free intervals.

   Synonyms

   fit, seizure, spasm, convulsion, paroxysm, outburst, flare-up
3. 1.3 An instance of fierce public criticism or opposition.
   he launched a stinging attack on the White House

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Members of a new action group launched an attack on the local police authority at a public meeting on Tuesday.
   • It is the most pathetic attack on public servants I have ever heard in this House.
   • No more will you have to endure the ill-formed attacks of the purchasing public.
   • The company has suffered public attacks in the US and Western Europe and announced a down-turn in profits earlier in the year.
   • When so out of touch with public and media attacks, that is when a First Minister should turn to his special advisers.
   • The admission drew a scathing attack from the Opposition, with Mr Gilmore calling for his resignation.
   • The Opposition Leader intensified his attack on the Prime Minister, insisting he had lied to the public.
   • And having made her a public figure, he must have expected her to be subjected to public scrutiny and political attacks.
   • Arnold Schwarzeneggar launched a blistering attack on the fiscal credentials of the opposition party.
   • The York Civic Trust's annual report launched a fierce attack on the loss of the city's Victorian heritage to the developers.
   • The following day, the government continued its political attack on the opposition.
   • Responding to criticism that his attacks on Elton and Madonna in his new biography are unfair, he has decided to set the record straight.
   • In the fight against cronyism, Malaysian economist Jomo has endured public attacks, lawsuits and death threats.
   • London's ex-police chief has launched a vitriolic attack on the minister.
   • He has yet again launched a personal attack on a public servant without justification.
   • Eventually, he had to respond to the mounting attacks and criticisms by Labor.
   • How low will it sink in its attacks on progressives and public spending?
   • Later he decided to rise above the criticism and attacks.
   • Last week, making his second appearance at the corruption trial, he launched a withering attack on his critics.
   • A government spending watchdog today launched a scathing attack on attempts to cut congestion.
   • In a fierce attack on both Labour and the Tories, he urged all parties to reach a consensus on how the NHS should be managed.
   • His sporadic cinematic output has been combined with fierce public attacks on the general media situation.

   Synonyms

   criticism, censure, rebuke, admonition, admonishment, reprimand, reproval
4. 1.4 A determined attempt to tackle a problem or task.
   an attack on inflation

   Example sentencesExamples

   • His proposed attack on drugs has two prongs: swift arrest and punishment for foreign druglords who continue to supply drugs to this country, and measures to make the drug trade so unprofitable that those in it will give it up.
   • I am determined to use my national responsibilities to launch a concerted attack on truancy and ill discipline in schools.
   • In this context, it is much more than a scientific venture: it is a direct attack on poverty and the disparities between rich and poor.
   • They generated a high-profile attack on muggers, which involved every interested government department.
5. 1.5Music The manner of beginning to play or sing a passage.
   Example sentencesExamples

   • She discusses the three uses of the diaphragm: on the attack of the first note, on the high / low note and on the last note.
   • The shaping of phrases is largely dependent on articulation, particularly on keyboard instruments, where finely controlled attack and decay on individual notes is prescribed
6. 1.6 Forceful and decisive style in performing music or another art.
   the sheer attack of Hendrix's playing

   Example sentencesExamples

   • I think the energy of it, not having an intermission on stage, and just the harsh sonic attack of the music, was great.
   • There's a sharpness and attack to her performances, which ensures a sense of drive.
7. 1.7 An aggressive attempt to score a goal, win points, or gain or exploit an advantage in a game.
   Example sentencesExamples

   • Kelly's brilliance inspired his team-mates and the remainder of the game saw Waterford launch many attacks at the visitors' goal.
   • Then just like earlier in the half the Graigue side swept forward in a wave of attacks which yielded a goal and three points.
   • This West Indian batting line-up has struggled to score against most attacks in the recent past.
   • There was little chance of another goal but the sporadic attacks did at least please the fans.
   • Kildare used the elements and the extra man to good advantage in the second half as they launched wave after wave of attacks on the Southerners' goal.
   • Portugal are now gaining an upper hand in the match, launching attacks from all over the pitch.
   • In Shahid's days there were more attacks and attempts on goals because of fast and true synthetic turf.
   • In midfield Callum Bott tackled as though his life depended upon it and broke up countless home attacks.
   • There was no sense of urgency from either team in the first half, with the game characterised by sporadic attacks at goals.
   • Dundee grew ragged under the weight of repeated attacks on their goal.
   • I think our style of play means we always risk conceding goals but we try to mitigate that with good attacks.
   • But they had to endure some anxious moments when the Gaels launched a number of attacks which ended in goals for the home team.
   • Solid defending from Kate Bugg and Amy Bowler kept attacks on the goal to a minimum with Emma Rowley having to make only two saves in the match.
   • A succession of relentless goal attacks highlighted the latter stages of the second half.
   • When he wasn't prompting attacks, he was scoring mighty points.
   • Smith dominated play from the start but after numerous attacks on goal failed to score.
   • Tadcaster repelled the Sheffield side's earlier attacks but three goals just before half-time eased the home side's frustrations.
8. 1.8Chess A threat to capture an opponent's piece.
   Example sentencesExamples

   • It is Black who now has all the chances on the kingside and he can now proceed to build up a kingside attack.
   • After a few careless moves in the opening Black develops a murderous attack.
   • In the Yugoslav it is generally correct for Black to attack with pieces and not pawns, because pawn attacks tend to be too slow.
   • White has two ways of giving up a piece for the attack in the main line, and they're both looking as deadly as ever.
   • Rubinstein combines the march of his King to a weak pawn with an attack against White's King.
   • Herbert Lockwood, who sacrificed a piece for two pawns and an attack that his opponent could not defend, gained the final point.