Attack
Attack ({not transcribed}) , transitive verb
[French attaquer, orig. another form of attacher to attack: compare Italian attacare to fasten, attack. See Attach, Tack a small nail.]
1.
To fall upon with force; to assail, as with force and arms; to assault.
Attack their lines.
2.
To assail with unfriendly speech or writing; to begin a controversy with; to attempt to overthrow or bring into disrepute, by criticism or satire; to censure; as, to attack a man, or his opinions, in a pamphlet.
3.
To set to work upon, as upon a task or problem, or some object of labor or investigation.
4.
To begin to affect; to begin to act upon, injuriously or destructively; to begin to decompose or waste.
On the fourth of March he was attacked by fever.
Hydrofluoric acid... attacks the glass.
Attack , intransitive verb
To make an onset or attack.
Attack , noun
[Compare French attaque.]
1.
The act of attacking, or falling on with force or violence; an onset; an assault; -- opposed to defense.
2.
An assault upon one's feelings or reputation with unfriendly or bitter words.
3.
A setting to work upon some task, etc.
4.
An access of disease; a fit of sickness.
5.
The beginning of corrosive, decomposing, or destructive action, by a chemical agent.