[əˈtak], (Verb)

Definitions:
- take aggressive military action against (a place or enemy forces) with weapons or armed force
(e.g: in February the Germans attacked Verdun)

- criticize or oppose fiercely and publicly
(e.g: he attacked the government's defence policy)

- begin to deal with (a problem or task) in a determined and vigorous way
(e.g: 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
(e.g: 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
(e.g: the nucleophile attacks the epoxide from the opposite side of the ring to the oxygen)


Phrases:

Origin:
late 16th century (as verb): from French attaquer (verb), from Italian attaccare ‘join battle’, originally ‘attach, fasten’, of uncertain origin; perhaps from French attacher (see attach), or perhaps from a-, intensifying prefix + obsolete taccare ‘put a mark on’, from tacca ‘stain, spot’

[əˈtak], (Noun)

Definitions:
- an aggressive and violent act against a person or place
(e.g: he was killed in an attack on a checkpoint)

- an instance of fierce public criticism or opposition
(e.g: he launched a stinging attack on the Prime Minister)

- a sudden short bout of an illness or stress
(e.g: an attack of nausea)

- (in sport) an aggressive attempt to score a goal or point or otherwise gain an advantage
(e.g: a Cardiff attack broke down inside Llanelli's 22)


Phrases:

Origin:
late 16th century (as verb): from French attaquer (verb), from Italian attaccare ‘join battle’, originally ‘attach, fasten’, of uncertain origin; perhaps from French attacher (see attach), or perhaps from a-, intensifying prefix + obsolete taccare ‘put a mark on’, from tacca ‘stain, spot’