noun / verb
attack
uh-TAK/ʌtˈæk/
A forceful assault directed at a target.
The wolf launches an attack, lunging toward the deer.
Etymology
The crucial expression was attaccare battaglia, 'join battle': joining became engaging an opponent in combat. This explains why attack and attach share an ancestor despite their different modern meanings.
In context
was to attack the flanks of Villeroi’s army, thus forcing the French to shift the bulk of their forces away from the center.
More examples
- Hackers attacked the company network during the night.
- The editorial attacks the mayor's handling of the budget.
- After the asthma attack, he had an attack of nerves about exercising.
- The volunteers attack the mountain of paperwork with fresh energy.
Forms
attack · attacks · attacked · attacking
attacker noun — Someone who directs an assault at a target.