Definition

/əˈtæk/

noun

An attempt to cause damage, injury to, or death of opponent or enemy.
An attempt to detract from the worth or credibility of, a person, position, idea, object, or thing, by physical, verbal, emotional, or other assault.
“They claimed the censorship of the article was an attack on free speech.”
A time in which one attacks; the offence of a battle.
“The army timed their attack to coincide with the local celebrations.”
(by extension) The beginning of active operations on anything.
“Having washed the plates from dinner, I made an attack on the laundry.”
An attempt to exploit a vulnerability in a computer system.

verb

To apply violent force to someone or something.
“This species of snake will only attack humans if it feels threatened.”
To aggressively challenge a person, idea, etc., with words (particularly in newspaper headlines, because it typesets into less space than "criticize" or similar).
“She published an article attacking the recent pay cuts.”
To begin to affect; to act upon injuriously or destructively; to begin to decompose or waste.
To deal with something in a direct way; to set to work upon.
“I attacked the meal with a hearty appetite.”
To aim balls at the batsman’s wicket.