attack

attack is a Verb

Definition:

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

[2] 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.

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

[4] 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.