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| Date: | 1600-1700 |
| Language: | French |
| Origin: | attaquer, from Old Italian attaccare 'to attach', from stacca 'sharp post' |
1 to deliberately use violence to hurt a person or damage a place : 
She was attacked while walking home late at night.His shop was attacked by a gang of youths. Snakes will only attack if you disturb them.
use violence
[intransitive and transitive]She was attacked while walking home late at night.His shop was attacked by a gang of youths.Snakes will only attack if you disturb them. attack somebody/something with something He needed 200 stitches after being attacked with a broken bottle.
He needed 200 stitches after being attacked with a broken bottle.2 to start using guns, bombs etc against an enemy in a war : Army tanks attacked a village near the capital on Sunday.
in a war
[intransitive and transitive]Army tanks attacked a village near the capital on Sunday.3 to criticize someone or something very strongly : Last year Dr Travis publicly attacked the idea that abortion should be available on demand.
criticize
[transitive]Last year Dr Travis publicly attacked the idea that abortion should be available on demand.4 if something such as a disease, insect, or chemical attacks something, it damages it : a cruel disease that attacks the brain and nervous system
damage
[transitive]a cruel disease that attacks the brain and nervous system5 to begin to do something in a determined and eager way : She immediately set about attacking the problem. Martin attacked his meal (=started eating) with vigour.
begin doing
[transitive]She immediately set about attacking the problem.Martin attacked his meal (=started eating) with vigour.6 to move forward and try to score goals or win points [↪ defend]: Brazil began to attack more in the second half of the match.
sport
[intransitive and transitive]DSBrazil began to attack more in the second half of the match.WORD FOCUS: criticize 
WORD FOCUS: criticize
to criticize someone or something very strongly: attack, lay into, tear somebody/something to shreds, pillory, pan
to criticize someone unfairly: put somebody down, slag somebody off BrE informal, talk about somebody behind their back, bitch about informal
to criticize small details: pick holes
➔ See also criticize
WORD FOCUS: criticize to criticize someone or something very strongly: attack, lay into, tear somebody/something to shreds, pillory, pan
to criticize someone unfairly: put somebody down, slag somebody off BrE informal, talk about somebody behind their back, bitch about informal
to criticize small details: pick holes
➔ See also criticize
