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attack noun [ uncountable and countable ] an act of using weapons against an enemy in a war: • The US was threatening to launch an attack on Iran. • The men had been carrying out rocket attacks on British forces. • Bombs have been falling throughout the night, and the city is still under attack (= being attacked ) . invasion noun [ uncountable and countable ] an occasion when an army enters a country and tries to take control of it: • The Allies began their invasion of Europe. • The threat of foreign invasion is very real. raid noun [ countable ] a short attack on a place by soldiers or planes, intended to cause damage but not take control: • an air raid • NATO warplanes carried out a series of bombing raids on the city. • The village has been the target of frequent raids by rebel groups. strike noun [ countable ] a sudden military attack, especially after a serious disagreement: • Senior Israeli officials warned that they were still considering a military strike. • the possibility of a nuclear strike assault noun [ countable ] a military attack intended to take control of a city, area, or building controlled by an enemy: • The final military assault on Kwangju began at 3 am on May 27. • Hitler launched an all-out assault (= using as many soldiers, weapons, planes etc as possible ) on Russia. ambush noun [ uncountable and countable ] a sudden attack by people who have been waiting and hiding, especially an attack on a vehicle or people who are travelling somewhere: • Five soldiers were shot in the back and killled in the ambush. • Enemy forces waiting in ambush opened fire on the vehicle. counterattack noun [ uncountable and countable ] a military attack made in response to an attack by an enemy: • Government forces launched a counterattack against the guerillas. • If they successfully occupied the city, they would need to be capable of defending it against enemy counterattack. onslaught noun [ countable ] formal a large violent attack by an army: • In 1544 there was a full-scale onslaught on France, in which the English took Boulogne. • The troops were preparing for another onslaught against the enemy.
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to attack a person attack to use violence against someone and try to hurt them: • She was attacked by a man with a baseball bat. • Police dogs are trained to attack. ambush if a group of people ambush someone, they hide and wait for them and then attack them: • The judge was ambushed by gunmen as he drove to work at the courthouse. mug to attack someone and take money from them in a public place such as a street: • He was mugged on his way home from school. stab to attack someone with a knife: • The victim had been stabbed in the neck. assault to attack and hurt someone – used especially when talking about this as a criminal offence: • He assaulted a flight attendant who refused to serve him more drinks. be set upon by somebody/something written to be attacked by a group of people: • He died outside his home after being set upon by a gang of youths. turn on to suddenly change your behaviour and attack the person you are with, when they do not expect this: • The dog suddenly turned on him, sinking its teeth into his arm. to attack a place attack to use weapons to try to damage or take control of a place: • The village was attacked by enemy warplanes. • We will attack at dawn. invade to enter a country and try to get control of it using force: • The Romans invaded Britain 2,000 years ago. storm to suddenly attack a city or building that is well defended by getting inside it and taking control: • Elite troops stormed the building and rescued the hostages. besiege to surround a city or building with soldiers in order to stop the people inside from getting out or from receiving supplies: • In April 655, Osman’s palace was besieged by rebels.
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noun 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 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 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. 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
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verb use violence ADV. brutally, savagely, viciously, violently She was brutally attacked by two men. | physically PREP. with He attacked her with a knife. criticize ADV. fiercely, savagely, sharply, strongly, vigorously PREP. for The police have been strongly attacked for not taking immediate action.