attack

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To use violence against someone or something.

   The dog attacked the postman without warning.

2. 2
   noun

   A violent attempt to hurt or damage someone or something.

   The attack on the village began at dawn.

3. 3
   noun

   Strong criticism in speech or writing.

   The newspaper published a fierce attack on the government.

4. 4
   noun

   A sudden short period of an illness or feeling.

   She had a panic attack before the exam.

5. 5
   verb

   To start dealing with a task with energy and determination.

   I attacked the pile of homework as soon as I got home.

Common collocations

• brutal attack Adjective + noun
• violent attack Adjective + noun
• prevent an attack Verb + noun
• survive an attack Verb + noun
• fierce attack Adjective + noun
• launch an attack Verb + noun
• mount an attack Verb + noun

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Italian a- Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *d(w)is- Proto-Italic *dis- Latin dis- Old French des- Proto-Indo-European *(s)teyg- Proto-Germanic *stikaną Proto-West Germanic *stekander. Old French atachier Old French destachier Middle French destacherbor. Italian distaccare Italian staccare Italian attaccarebor. French attaquer French attaquebor. English attack Borrowed from French attaque, derived from the verb attaquer, from Italian attaccare (“to join, attach”) (used in attaccare battaglia (“t…

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