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Definition of attack verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

     

    attack

     verb
    verb
    NAmE//əˈtæk//
     
    Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they attack
     
     he / she / it attacks
     
     past simple attacked
     
     -ing form attacking
     
     
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    use violence
  1. 1[intransitive, transitive, often passive] to use violence to try to hurt or kill someone Most dogs will not attack unless provoked. attack somebody A woman was attacked and robbed. attack somebody with something The man attacked him with a knife.
    2. in war
  2. 2[intransitive, transitive] to use weapons, such as guns and bombs, against an enemy in a war, etc. The guerrillas attack at night. attack somebody/something At dawn the army attacked the town.
    3. criticize
  3. 3[transitive] to criticize someone or something severely attack somebody/something a newspaper article attacking the governor attack somebody/something for something/for doing something She has been attacked for ignoring her own party members.
    4. damage
  4. 4[transitive] attack something to have a harmful effect on something a disease that attacks the brain The vines were attacked by mildew.
    5. do something with energy
  5. 5[transitive] attack something to deal with something with a lot of energy and determination Let's attack one problem at a time.
    6. in sports
  6. 6[intransitive] to go forward in a game in order to try to score goals or points The Penguins attacked more in the second half and deserved a goal. compare defend
See attack in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
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