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attack
at·tack / əˈtak/ • v. [tr.] take aggressive action against (a place or enemy forces) with weapons or armed force, typically in a battle or war: in December, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor | [intr.] the terrorists did not attack again until March. ∎ (of a person or animal) act against (someone or something) aggressively in an attempt to injure or kill. ∎ (of a disease, chemical substance, or insect) act harmfully on: HIV is thought to attack certain cells in the brain. ∎ criticize or oppose fiercely and publicly. ∎ begin to deal with (a problem or task) in a determined and vigorous way: a plan of action to attack unemployment. ∎ [intr.] make an aggressive or forceful attempt to score a goal or point, or gain or exploit an advantage in a game against an opposing team or player. ∎ Chess move into or be in a position to capture (an opponent's piece). • n. an agressive and violent action against a person or place: three classrooms were gutted in the arson attack. ∎ destructive action by a disease, chemical, or insect: the tissue is open to attack by fungus. ∎ a sudden short bout of an illness or stress: an attack of nausea. ∎ an instance of fierce public criticism or opposition: he launched a stinging attack on the White House. ∎ a determined attempt to tackle a problem or task: an attack on inflation. ∎ Mus. the manner of beginning to play or sing a passage. ∎ forceful and decisive style in performing music or another art: the sheer attack of Hendrix's playing. ∎ an aggressive attempt to score a goal, win points, or gain or exploit an advantage in a game. ∎ Chess a threat to capture an opponent's piece. PHRASES: under attack subject to aggressive, violent, or harmful action: his paintings have come under attack for their satanic content. |
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Cite this article
"attack." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "attack." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-attack.html "attack." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-attack.html |
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attack
attack An attempt to overcome the security provisions of the network of a computer network. Attacks can be ACTIVE ATTACKS which alter the data stored on the network, for example deleting a critical FILE, or PASSIVE ATTACKS which just read sensitive data passing through TRANSMISSION LINES.
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DARREL INCE. "attack." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DARREL INCE. "attack." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-attack.html DARREL INCE. "attack." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-attack.html |
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attack
attack vb. XVI. — F. attaquer — It. attaccare as in attaccare battaglia join battle f. Gmc. *stak- (see ATTACH).
Hence, or — F. attaque (— It. attacco) attack sb. XVII. |
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T. F. HOAD. "attack." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "attack." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-attack.html T. F. HOAD. "attack." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-attack.html |
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attack
attack
•aback, alack, attack, back, black, brack, clack, claque, crack, Dirac, drack, flack, flak, hack, jack, Kazakh, knack, lack, lakh, mac, mach, Nagorno-Karabakh, pack, pitchblack, plaque, quack, rack, sac, sack, shack, shellac, slack, smack, snack, stack, tach, tack, thwack, track, vac, wack, whack, wrack, yak, Zack
•cardiac • zodiac
•haemophiliac (US hemophiliac), necrophiliac, sacroiliac
•umiak
•bibliomaniac, dipsomaniac, egomaniac, kleptomaniac, maniac, megalomaniac, monomaniac, nymphomaniac, pyromaniac
•insomniac • celeriac • Syriac
•hypochondriac • Mauriac • theriac
•amnesiac
•aphrodisiac, Dionysiac
•Dayak, kayak
•Kerouac • bivouac
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Cite this article
"attack." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "attack." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-attack.html "attack." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-attack.html |
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