attack noun
1 violence against sb
ADJ. brutal, frenzied, horrific, savage, serious, vicious, violent | unprovoked | racist, sexual | arson, gun, knife an increase in knife attacks on police officers
QUANT. series, spate, wave
VERB + ATTACK carry out Two teenagers carried out a frenzied attack on a local shopkeeper. | be subjected to He was subjected to a violent attack.
ATTACK + VERB happen, occur, take place Where did the attack happen?
PREP. ~ against vicious attacks against pensioners | ~ by an attack by an armed gang | ~ on an attack on a bus driver
PHRASES a victim of an attack
2 act of violence in war
ADJ. all-out, full-scale, major | sustained | surprise | retaliatory | mock | flank, frontal | enemy, guerrilla, terrorist | air, bomb, missile, mortar, nuclear
QUANT. series The southern border towns have suffered a series of attacks.
VERB + ATTACK carry out, launch, lead, make, mount, spearhead The soldiers mounted an all-out attack on the village. | come under, suffer They came under sustained attack from the air. | repel, repulse, resist | survive, withstand Most of the population would stand little chance of surviving a nuclear attack. | press home, renew Bombers pressed home their attack, causing severe damage to harbour installations.
ATTACK + VERB happen, occur, take place The attack took place under cover of darkness. | fail, succeed
PREP. under ~ The province has been under attack from the rebels. | ~ against attacks against civilians | ~ by an attack by rebel forces | ~ on an attack on enemy positions
3 criticism
ADJ. bitter, blistering, fierce, outspoken, savage, scathing, scurrilous, stinging, vigorous | personal Is this a personal attack on the president, or a criticism of the government? | concerted | verbal
VERB + ATTACK deliver, go on the, launch, make, mount, unleash Doctors have gone on the attack, accusing the government of incompetence. | come under, provoke All politicians come under attack for their views. The government's decision has provoked an attack from leaders of the health service.
PREP. ~ on/upon an attack on my integrity
PHRASES a/the line of attack The first line of attack is often name-calling. | open to attack He has laid himself wide open to attack.
4 sudden illness
ADJ. acute, sudden | bad, nasty, severe | fatal | mild, slight | recurrent | asthma, heart, panic a fatal heart attack
VERB + ATTACK experience, have, suffer (from) He suffers from attacks of anxiety. | bring on, cause, trigger a heart attack brought on by stress
ATTACK + VERB happen, occur, take place
PREP. ~ of a sudden attack of nerves
attack verb
1 use violence
ADV. brutally, savagely, viciously, violently She was brutally attacked by two men. | physically
PREP. with He attacked her with a knife.
2 criticize
ADV. fiercely, savagely, sharply, strongly, vigorously
PREP. for The police have been strongly attacked for not taking immediate action.
You can also check other dicts: attack (English, 中文解释 ), wordnet sense, Collins Definition