Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

attempt

1 noun
     
at‧tempt1 S2 W1 [countable]
1 an act of trying to do something, especially something difficult
attempt to do something
All attempts to control inflation have failed.
The protesters made no attempt to resist arrest.
his first unsuccessful attempt to become an MP
In an attempt to diffuse the tension I suggested that we break off for lunch.
attempt at (doing) something
her feeble attempt at humour
at the first/second etc attempt
She passed her driving test at the first attempt.
2

an attempt on somebody's life

an act of trying to kill someone, especially someone famous or important
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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