ATTACK

To fall upon with force; to assail, as with force and arms; to assault. "Attack their lines." Dryden.

To assail with unfriendly speech or writing; to begin a controversy with; to attempt to overthrow or bring into disrepute, by criticism or satire; to censure; as, to attack a man, or his opinions, in a pamphlet.

To set to work upon, as upon a task or problem, or some object of labor or investigation.

To begin to affect; to begin to act upon, injuriously or destructively; to begin to decompose or waste. On the fourth of March he was attacked by fever. Macaulay. Hydrofluoric acid . . . attacks the glass. B. Stewart.

To make an onset or attack.

The act of attacking, or falling on with force or violence; an onset; an assault; -- opposed to defense.

An assault upon one's feelings or reputation with unfriendly or bitter words.

A setting to work upon some task, etc.

An access of disease; a fit of sickness.

The beginning of corrosive, decomposing, or destructive action, by a chemical agent.