ATTACK - Definition & Meaning for Kids
Meaning 1
Part of speech: Verb
launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
Example: Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II; Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week
Categories: Contend, Fight, Struggle
Meaning 2
Part of speech: Verb
attack in speech or writing
Example: The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker
Categories: Knock, Criticize, Criticise, Pick apart
Meaning 3
Part of speech: Verb
set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task
Example: I attacked the problem as soon as I got out of bed
Categories: Get down, Begin, Get, Start out, Start, Set about, Set out, Commence
Meaning 4
Part of speech: Verb
begin to injure
Example: The cancer cells are attacking his liver; Rust is attacking the metal
Categories: Affect
Meaning 5
Part of speech: Noun
a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition
Example: an attack of diarrhea
Categories: Affliction
Meaning 6
Part of speech: Noun
the onset of a corrosive or destructive process (as by a chemical agent)
Example: the film was sensitive to attack by acids; open to attack by the elements
Categories: Degeneration, Devolution
Meaning 7
Part of speech: Noun
strong criticism
Example: he published an unexpected attack on my work
Categories: Criticism, Unfavorable judgment
Meaning 8
Part of speech: Verb
take the initiative and go on the offensive
Example: The Serbs attacked the village at night; The visiting team started to attack
Categories: Act, Move
Synonyms
Plan of attack, Flak, Set on, Assail, Blast
Antonyms
🌱 Word Origin (Etymology)
The word "attack" comes from Frankish *stakka, which comes from Italian attaccare, which was borrowed from French attaque.
🔗 Related Words
attach – A related word in the same word family.
🧩 Fun Fact
Linguists have reconstructed thousands of Proto-Indo-European words by comparing modern language families.