2attack noun
plural attacks 1 a [count] : a violent, harmful, or destructive act against someone or something
▪ dog/shark attacks = attacks by dogs/sharks ▪ One of the patients was the victim of a knife attack. [=an attack made using a knife] — often + on ▪ There have been a number of attacks on women on the campus.
b : harmful or destructive action against something by a disease, insect, chemical, etc. [noncount] ▪ The immune system is the body's defense against attack by germs. [count] ▪ The spray protects plants from attacks by many common pests. 2 : an attempt by a military force to defeat an enemy : a military offensive [count] ▪ an air/ground attack = an attack made from the air/ground ▪ The surprise attack came at dawn. [noncount] ▪ There is a threat of nuclear attack. 3 [count] : strong or severe criticism
▪ There have been many attacks against the professor for her position on the issue. ▪ a verbal attack ▪ The newspaper editorial is an attack on policy-makers. 4 [count] : a sudden short period of suffering from an illness or of being affected by a strong emotion
▪ an asthma attack ▪ a panic/anxiety attack — often + of ▪ an attack of the flu ▪ an attack of food poisoning ▪ an attack of nerves/melancholy — sometimes used figuratively ▪ an attack of the giggles ▪ He had an unexpected attack of goodness and helped us out. — see also heart attack 5 [count] : an attempt to destroy or end something — often + on ▪ City leaders have called for an attack on poverty. ▪ Local schools are mounting an attack on racism. 6 : a method of dealing with something (such as a problem) [count] ▪ Each problem calls for a different attack. [noncount] ▪ The current approach isn't working. I think we need a new plan of attack. [=a new idea of how to do what we are trying to do] 7 sports a [count] : an attempt by a player or group of players to score points, goals, or runs — usually singular ▪ They had a sustained attack but could not score. ▪ The players carried the attack deep into the opponent's side of the field. ▪ They won the game in the last two innings with an 8-hit attack. [=they won the game by getting eight hits in the last two innings]
b Brit : the players on a team who try to score : offense [singular] ▪ The team's attack has been weakened by injury. [noncount] ▪ He will play in attack. [=(US) on offense]
▪ dog/shark attacks = attacks by dogs/sharks ▪ One of the patients was the victim of a knife attack. [=an attack made using a knife] — often + on ▪ There have been a number of attacks on women on the campus.
b : harmful or destructive action against something by a disease, insect, chemical, etc. [noncount] ▪ The immune system is the body's defense against attack by germs. [count] ▪ The spray protects plants from attacks by many common pests.
▪ There have been many attacks against the professor for her position on the issue. ▪ a verbal attack ▪ The newspaper editorial is an attack on policy-makers.
▪ an asthma attack ▪ a panic/anxiety attack — often + of ▪ an attack of the flu ▪ an attack of food poisoning ▪ an attack of nerves/melancholy — sometimes used figuratively ▪ an attack of the giggles ▪ He had an unexpected attack of goodness and helped us out. — see also heart attack
b Brit : the players on a team who try to score : offense [singular] ▪ The team's attack has been weakened by injury. [noncount] ▪ He will play in attack. [=(US) on offense]
on the attack
: making an attack
▪ The soldiers were on the attack. [=were attacking the enemy] ▪ The team was on the attack [=was aggressively trying to score] for most of the first half. ▪ The team went on the attack [=began to attack] and quickly scored a goal. ▪ The candidate went on the attack and accused his opponent of lying. ▪ Opponents of the project went on the attack and defeated the land sale.
▪ The soldiers were on the attack. [=were attacking the enemy] ▪ The team was on the attack [=was aggressively trying to score] for most of the first half. ▪ The team went on the attack [=began to attack] and quickly scored a goal. ▪ The candidate went on the attack and accused his opponent of lying. ▪ Opponents of the project went on the attack and defeated the land sale.
under attack
: being affected or hurt by an attack : being attacked
▪ The troops were under attack [=were being attacked by the enemy] throughout the day. ▪ The troops suddenly came under attack. [=began to be attacked] ▪ The new policy has come under attack [=has been strongly criticized] by environmentalists.
▪ The troops were under attack [=were being attacked by the enemy] throughout the day. ▪ The troops suddenly came under attack. [=began to be attacked] ▪ The new policy has come under attack [=has been strongly criticized] by environmentalists.
