Library / English Dictionary

ATTACK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A decisive manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase

Synonyms:

attack; tone-beginning

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("attack" is a kind of...):

beginning; commencement; start (the act of starting something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An offensive move in a sport or game

Example:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("attack" is a kind of...):

play; turn ((game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "attack"):

counterattack; counterplay ((chess) an attack that is intended to counter the opponent's advantage in another part of the board)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The act of attacking

Example:

they made an attempt on his life

Synonyms:

attack; attempt

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("attack" is a kind of...):

crime; criminal offence; criminal offense; law-breaking ((criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "attack"):

assault (a threatened or attempted physical attack by someone who appears to be able to cause bodily harm if not stopped)

Derivation:

attack (attack someone physically or emotionally)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation

Example:

his plan of attack was misguided

Synonyms:

approach; attack; plan of attack

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("attack" is a kind of...):

conceptualisation; conceptualization; formulation (inventing or contriving an idea or explanation and formulating it mentally)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "attack"):

avenue (a line of approach)

Sense 5

Meaning:

(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)

Example:

the attack began at dawn

Synonyms:

attack; onrush; onset; onslaught

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("attack" is a kind of...):

military operation; operation (activity by a military or naval force (as a maneuver or campaign))

Meronyms (parts of "attack"):

assault (close fighting during the culmination of a military attack)

Domain category:

armed forces; armed services; military; military machine; war machine (the military forces of a nation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "attack"):

coup de main; surprise attack (an attack without warning)

strafe (an attack of machine-gun fire or cannon fire from a low flying airplane)

fire; firing (the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy)

bombardment; bombing (an attack by dropping bombs)

counterattack; countermove (an attack by a defending force against an attacking enemy force in order to regain lost ground or cut off enemy advance units etc.)

strike (an attack that is intended to seize or inflict damage on or destroy an objective)

blitz; blitzkrieg (a swift and violent military offensive with intensive aerial bombardment)

incursion; penetration (an attack that penetrates into enemy territory)

diversion; diversionary attack (an attack calculated to draw enemy defense away from the point of the principal attack)

banzai attack; banzai charge (a mass attack of troops without concern for casualties; originated by Japanese who accompanied it with yells of 'banzai')

charge (an impetuous rush toward someone or something)

ground attack (an attack by ground troops)

Derivation:

attack (take the initiative and go on the offensive)

attack (launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Strong criticism

Example:

he published an unexpected attack on my work

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("attack" is a kind of...):

criticism; unfavorable judgment (disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "attack"):

aspersion; calumny; defamation; denigration; slander (an abusive attack on a person's character or good name)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Intense adverse criticism

Example:

don't give me any flak

Synonyms:

attack; blast; fire; flack; flak

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("attack" is a kind of...):

criticism; unfavorable judgment (disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings)

Derivation:

attack (attack in speech or writing)

Sense 8

Meaning:

The onset of a corrosive or destructive process (as by a chemical agent)

Example:

open to attack by the elements

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Hypernyms ("attack" is a kind of...):

degeneration; devolution (the process of declining from a higher to a lower level of effective power or vitality or essential quality)

Derivation:

attack (begin to injure)

Sense 9

Meaning:

A sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition

Example:

an attack of diarrhea

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("attack" is a kind of...):

affliction (a cause of great suffering and distress)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "attack"):

heart attack (a sudden severe instance of abnormal heart function)

occlusion (closure or blockage (as of a blood vessel))

hysterics (an attack of hysteria)

convulsion; fit; paroxysm (a sudden uncontrollable attack)

apoplexy; cerebrovascular accident; CVA; stroke (a sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain)

spot; touch (a slight attack of illness)

ictus; raptus; seizure (a sudden occurrence (or recurrence) of a disease)

flare (a sudden recurrence or worsening of symptoms)

anxiety attack (a sudden acute episode of intense anxiety and feelings of panic)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Begin to injure

Example:

Rust is attacking the metal

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "attack" is one way to...):

affect (act physically on; have an effect upon)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

attack (the onset of a corrosive or destructive process (as by a chemical agent))

attacker (someone who attacks)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task

Example:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "attack" is one way to...):

begin; commence; get; get down; set about; set out; start; start out (take the first step or steps in carrying out an action)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

attacker (someone who attacks)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Attack in speech or writing

Example:

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

Synonyms:

assail; assault; attack; lash out; round; snipe

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "attack" is one way to...):

criticise; criticize; knock; pick apart (find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "attack"):

rubbish (attack strongly)

blister; scald; whip (subject to harsh criticism)

barrage; bombard (address with continuously or persistently, as if with a barrage)

whang (attack forcefully)

rip (criticize or abuse strongly and violently)

vitriol (subject to bitter verbal abuse)

claw (attack as if with claws)

abuse; blackguard; clapperclaw; shout (use foul or abusive language towards)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

attacker (someone who attacks)

attack (intense adverse criticism)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Take the initiative and go on the offensive

Example:

The visiting team started to attack

Synonyms:

aggress; attack

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "attack" is one way to...):

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Verb group:

assail; attack (launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "attack"):

check (place into check)

fork (place under attack with one's own pieces, of two enemy pieces)

harass (exhaust by attacking repeatedly)

pin ((chess) immobilize a piece)

tackle (seize and throw down an opponent player, who usually carries the ball)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

attack ((military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons))

attacker (someone who attacks)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with

Example:

Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week

Synonyms:

assail; attack

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "attack" is one way to...):

contend; fight; struggle (be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight)

Verb group:

aggress; attack (take the initiative and go on the offensive)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "attack"):

bust; raid (search without warning, make a sudden surprise attack on)

torpedo (attack or hit with torpedoes)

cannonade (attack with cannons or artillery)

strafe (attack with machine guns or cannon fire from a low-flying plane)

bomb; bombard (throw bombs at or attack with bombs)

beleaguer; besiege; circumvent; hem in; surround (surround so as to force to give up)

invade; occupy (march aggressively into another's territory by military force for the purposes of conquest and occupation)

blitz (attack suddenly and without warning)

storm; surprise (attack by storm; attack suddenly)

gas (attack with gas; subject to gas fumes)

counterattack; counterstrike (make a counterattack)

hit; strike (make a strategic, offensive, assault against an enemy, opponent, or a target)

pelt; pepper (attack and bombard with or as if with missiles)

submarine (attack by submarine)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Antonym:

defend (be on the defensive; act against an attack)

Derivation:

attack ((military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons))

attacker (someone who attacks)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Attack someone physically or emotionally

Example:

Nightmares assailed him regularly

Synonyms:

assail; assault; attack; set on

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "attack"):

molest (harass or assault sexually; make indecent advances to)

desecrate; outrage; profane; violate (violate the sacred character of a place or language)

assault; dishonor; dishonour; outrage; rape; ravish; violate (force (someone) to have sex against their will)

beset; set upon (assail or attack on all sides:)

jump (make a sudden physical attack on)

reassail (assail again)

savage (attack brutally and fiercely)

blindside (attack or hit on or from the side where the attacked person's view is obstructed)

rush (attack suddenly)

bulldog (attack viciously and ferociously)

set; sic (urge to attack someone)

bait (attack with dogs or set dogs upon)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

attack (the act of attacking)

attacker (someone who attacks)

Credits

 Context examples: 

The investigators determined that the antibody, FluA-20, binds tightly to an area on the globular head of the HA protein that is only very briefly accessible to antibody attack.

(Human antibody reveals hidden vulnerability in influenza virus, National Institutes of Health)

The newly discovered compound offers a novel approach for attacking many disease-causing viruses.

(Scientists Discover How Antiviral Gene Works, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

It is important to note that the new findings do not apply to people with a proven indication for aspirin such as stroke, heart attack or other cardiovascular disease.

(Daily low-dose aspirin found to have no effect on healthy life span in older people, National Institutes of Health)

It’s believed to be an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheaths that insulate nerves.

(Vitamin D Levels Predict Multiple Sclerosis Progression, NIH)

The newly identified Zika variation could help explain the virus’s ability to attack nerve cells.

(Zika virus structure revealed, NIH)

A new study has identified a link between brushing teeth and preventing heart attacks.

(Frequently brushing teeth may help prevent heart attacks, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Over five years those whose homes were surrounded by more greenery were less likely to suffer a stroke, heart attack or high blood pressure.

(People Living Near Parks in Cities Less Likely to Face Early Death, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

High energy light, like ultraviolet laser light, can form free radicals able to attack cancer tissue.

(Making higher energy light to fight cancer, National Science Foundation)

These cells had previously failed to respond to existing methods of 'therapeutic attack'.

(Molecule in Immune System Able to Trigger 'Suicide' of Cancerous Tumors, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

HDL and triglycerides are both correlated with heart attack, and have an inverse relationship with one another—the lower the HDL, the higher the triglycerides.

(Rare mutations reduce heart disease risk, NIH)