noun

• (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
  "the attack began at dawn"
• an offensive move in a sport or game
  "they won the game with a 10-hit attack in the 9th inning"
• intense adverse criticism
  "Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party"
• ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation
  "his approach to every problem is to draw up a list of pros and cons"

verb

• launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
  "Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II"
• attack in speech or writing
  "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker"
• take the initiative and go on the offensive
  "The Serbs attacked the village at night"
• attack someone physically or emotionally
  "The mugger assaulted the woman"