take aggressive military action against (a place or enemy forces) with weapons or armed force

in February the Germans attacked Verdun

the terrorists did not attack again until March

criticize or oppose fiercely and publicly

he attacked the government's defence policy

begin to deal with (a problem or task) in a determined and vigorous way

a plan of action to attack unemployment

(in sport) make a forceful attempt to score a goal or point or otherwise gain an advantage against an opposing team or player

Crystal Palace attacked swiftly down the left

(of a reagent or reactive species) approach and interact with (an atom, group, or bond in a molecule), thereby breaking a bond or forming a new bond

the nucleophile attacks the epoxide from the opposite side of the ring to the oxygen

an aggressive and violent act against a person or place

he was killed in an attack on a checkpoint

three classrooms were gutted in the arson attack

the north-western suburbs came under attack in the latest fighting

an instance of fierce public criticism or opposition

he launched a stinging attack on the Prime Minister

a sudden short bout of an illness or stress

an attack of nausea

an asthma attack

(in sport) an aggressive attempt to score a goal or point or otherwise gain an advantage

a Cardiff attack broke down inside Llanelli's 22

United hardly did a thing in attack