Meaning of “attack” in the English Dictionary

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"attack" in English

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attackverb

uk ​ /əˈtæk/ us ​ /əˈtæk/

attack verb (HURT)

B1 [ I or T ] to try to hurt or defeat using violence:

He was attacked and seriously injured by a gang of youths.
Army forces have been attacking the town since dawn.
Most wild animals won't attack unless they are provoked.
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defend

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attack verb (DAMAGE)

C2 [ T ] If something, such as a disease or a chemical, attacks something, it damages it:

AIDS attacks the body's immune system.
My rose bushes are being attacked by aphids.

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attacknoun

uk ​ /əˈtæk/ us ​ /əˈtæk/

attack noun (VIOLENT ACT)

B1 [ C or U ] a violent act intended to hurt or damage someone or something:

a racist attack
Enemy forces have made an attack on the city.
These bomb blasts suggest that the terrorists are (going) on the attack (= trying to defeat or hurt other people) again.
The town was once again under attack (= being attacked).

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attack noun (SPORT)

B1 [ C or U ] the part of a team in some sports that tries to score points:

The team has a strong attack, but its defence is weak.
The team is strong inattack but useless in defence.

› [ U ] determination in the way you play a sport, trying hard to score points:

The team needs to put some more attack into its game.

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(Definition of “attack” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

"attack" in American English

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attackverb

us ​ /əˈtæk/

attack verb (HURT)

› [ I/T ] to try to hurt or defeat someone or something using violence:

[ T ] Two campers were attacked by a bear last night.
[ I ] Most wild animals won't attack unless they are provoked.

› [ I/T ] If a disease or a chemical attacks something, it damages it:

[ T ] The stress hormone cortisol attacks the immune system.

attack verb (CRITICIZE)

› [ T ] to criticize someone or something strongly:

Critics have attacked her ideas as antidemocratic.
In TV ads, he attacked his opponent’s record.
attacker
noun [ C ] us ​ /əˈtæk·ər/

attacknoun [ C/U ]

us ​ /əˈtæk/

attack noun [ C/U ] (HURT)

› An attack is also a sudden, short period of illness, or a sudden feeling that you cannot control:

[ C ] an asthma attack
[ C ] How do you let your kids go without having anxiety attacks?

attack noun [ C/U ] (CRITICISM)

› An attack is also strong criticism of someone or something:

[ U ] The more he speaks out, the more he comes under attack.

Idiom(s)

on the attack

(Definition of “attack” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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Come on – you can do it! Phrasal verbs with 'come'.

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