attack

1.(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons);

the attack began at dawn

2.a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition;

an attack of diarrhea

3.intense adverse criticism;

Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party

4.the act of attacking;

attacks on women increased last year

5.an offensive move in a sport or game;

they won the game with a 10-hit attack in the 9th inning

6.the onset of a corrosive or destructive process (as by a chemical agent);

the film was sensitive to attack by acids

7.ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation;

his approach to every problem is to draw up a list of pros and cons

8.a decisive manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase

9.strong criticism;

he published an unexpected attack on my work

1.launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with;

Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II

2.attack in speech or writing;

The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker

3.take the initiative and go on the offensive;

The Serbs attacked the village at night

4.attack someone physically or emotionally;

The mugger assaulted the woman

5.set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task;

I attacked the problem as soon as I got out of bed

6.begin to injure;

The cancer cells are attacking his liver