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| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | assaut, from Latin assaltus, past participle of assalire; ASSAIL |
1SCC [uncountable and countable] the crime of physically attacking someone : 
a case of robbery and assault
a case of robbery and assault2 [uncountable and countable] a military attack to take control of a place controlled by the enemy a powerful assault rifle
a powerful assault rifle3 [uncountable and countable] a strong spoken or written criticism of someone else's ideas, plans etc [= attack]
assault on an assault on the capitalist system
an assault on the capitalist system4 [countable] an attempt to achieve something difficult, especially using physical force
assault on an assault on Mt Everest (=an attempt to climb it)
an assault on Mt Everest (=an attempt to climb it)WORD FOCUS: crime WORD FOCUS: crime
crimes that involve stealing things: robbery, burglary, theft, shoplifting, fraud, carjacking
crimes that involve attacking people : assault, mugging, murder, rape
someone who commits crimes: criminal, thief, crook, burglar, mugger, robber, pickpocket, rapist, offender, lawbreakercrime
➔ See also crime
WORD FOCUS: crime crimes that involve stealing things: robbery, burglary, theft, shoplifting, fraud, carjacking
crimes that involve attacking people : assault, mugging, murder, rape
someone who commits crimes: criminal, thief, crook, burglar, mugger, robber, pickpocket, rapist, offender, lawbreakercrime
➔ See also crime
