əˈɡɹɛs əˈseɪl əˈsɔːlt əˈsɑlt əˈtæk əˈtæk əˈtɛmpt flæk ˈɒnˌɹʌʃ ˈɒnˌsɛt ˈɔnˌsɛt ˈɒnslɔːt begin to injure The cancer cells are attacking his liver Rust is attacking the metal a decisive manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task I attacked the problem as soon as I got out of bed an offensive move in a sport or game they won the game with a 10-hit attack in the 9th inning the act of attacking attacks on women increased last year they made an attempt on his life attack in speech or writing The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation his approach to every problem is to draw up a list of pros and cons an attack on inflation his plan of attack was misguided (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons) the attack began at dawn take the initiative and go on the offensive The Serbs attacked the village at night The visiting team started to attack launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week attack someone physically or emotionally The mugger assaulted the woman Nightmares assailed him regularly strong criticism he published an unexpected attack on my work intense adverse criticism Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party the government has come under attack don't give me any flak the onset of a corrosive or destructive process (as by a chemical agent) the film was sensitive to attack by acids open to attack by the elements a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition an attack of diarrhea