assault


Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Financial, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

as·sault

 (ə-sôlt′)
n.
1.
a. A violent physical attack, as with blows.
b. A strong or cutting verbal attack.
2.
a. A military attack, such as one launched against a fortified area or place.
b. The concluding stage of an attack in which close combat occurs with the enemy.
3. Law
a. An unlawful threat or attempt to do bodily injury to another.
b. The act or an instance of unlawfully threatening or attempting to injure another.
4.
a. Sexual assault.
b. The crime of rape.
5. A rigorous or energetic effort to accomplish something difficult: an assault on the mountain's summit; an assault on poverty.
v. as·sault·ed, as·sault·ing, as·saults
v.tr.
1. To make a violent assault upon; attack. See Synonyms at attack.
2. To rape.
3. To attack verbally; criticize or denounce.
4. To harass or beset: assaulted by advertisements.
v.intr.
To make an assault.

[Middle English assaut, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *assaltus, variant of Latin assultus, from past participle of assilīre, to jump on; see assail.]

as·sault′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

assault

(əˈsɔːlt)
n
1. a violent attack, either physical or verbal
2. (Law) law an intentional or reckless act that causes another person to expect to be subjected to immediate and unlawful violence. Compare battery4, assault and battery
3. (Military)
a. the culmination of a military attack, in which fighting takes place at close quarters
b. (as modifier): assault troops.
4. rape or attempted rape
vb (tr)
5. to make an assault upon
6. to rape or attempt to rape
[C13: from Old French asaut, from Vulgar Latin assaltus (unattested), from assalīre (unattested) to leap upon; see assail]
asˈsaulter n
asˈsaultive adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

as•sault

(əˈsɔlt)

n.
1. a sudden violent attack; onslaught.
2. an unlawful physical attack upon another, esp. an attempt or threat to do bodily harm.
v.t.
5. to make an assault upon; attack; assail.
[1200–50; < Old French < Vulgar Latin *assaltus, for Latin assultus, derivative of assalīre to leap (toward) <as- as- + salīre to leap]
as•sault′a•ble, adj.
as•sault′er, n.
as•sault′ive, adj.
as•sault′ive•ly, adv.
as•sault′ive•ness, n.
syn: See attack.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

assault

1. The climax of an attack, closing with the enemy in hand-to-hand fighting.
2. In an amphibious operation, the period of time between the arrival of the major assault forces of the amphibious task force in the objective area and the accomplishment of the amphibious task force mission.
3. To make a short, violent, but well-ordered attack against a local objective, such as a gun emplacement, a fort, or a machine gun nest.
4. A phase of an airborne operation beginning with delivery by air of the assault echelon of the force into the objective area and extending through attack of assault objectives and consolidation of the initial airhead. See also assault phase; landing attack.
Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.

assault


Past participle: assaulted
Gerund: assaulting

Imperative
assault
assault
Present
I assault
you assault
he/she/it assaults
we assault
you assault
they assault
Preterite
I assaulted
you assaulted
he/she/it assaulted
we assaulted
you assaulted
they assaulted
Present Continuous
I am assaulting
you are assaulting
he/she/it is assaulting
we are assaulting
you are assaulting
they are assaulting
Present Perfect
I have assaulted
you have assaulted
he/she/it has assaulted
we have assaulted
you have assaulted
they have assaulted
Past Continuous
I was assaulting
you were assaulting
he/she/it was assaulting
we were assaulting
you were assaulting
they were assaulting
Past Perfect
I had assaulted
you had assaulted
he/she/it had assaulted
we had assaulted
you had assaulted
they had assaulted
Future
I will assault
you will assault
he/she/it will assault
we will assault
you will assault
they will assault
Future Perfect
I will have assaulted
you will have assaulted
he/she/it will have assaulted
we will have assaulted
you will have assaulted
they will have assaulted
Future Continuous
I will be assaulting
you will be assaulting
he/she/it will be assaulting
we will be assaulting
you will be assaulting
they will be assaulting
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been assaulting
you have been assaulting
he/she/it has been assaulting
we have been assaulting
you have been assaulting
they have been assaulting
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been assaulting
you will have been assaulting
he/she/it will have been assaulting
we will have been assaulting
you will have been assaulting
they will have been assaulting
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been assaulting
you had been assaulting
he/she/it had been assaulting
we had been assaulting
you had been assaulting
they had been assaulting
Conditional
I would assault
you would assault
he/she/it would assault
we would assault
you would assault
they would assault
Past Conditional
I would have assaulted
you would have assaulted
he/she/it would have assaulted
we would have assaulted
you would have assaulted
they would have assaulted
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.assault - close fighting during the culmination of a military attackassault - close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
resisting arrest - physical efforts to oppose a lawful arrest; the resistance is classified as assault and battery upon the person of the police officer attempting to make the arrest
battle, engagement, fight, conflict - a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war; "Grant won a decisive victory in the battle of Chickamauga"; "he lost his romantic ideas about war when he got into a real engagement"
attack, onrush, onset, onslaught - (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons); "the attack began at dawn"
storm - a direct and violent assault on a stronghold
armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker"
2.assault - a threatened or attempted physical attack by someone who appears to be able to cause bodily harm if not stoppedassault - a threatened or attempted physical attack by someone who appears to be able to cause bodily harm if not stopped
aggravated assault - a reckless attack with intent to injure seriously (as with a deadly weapon)
assault and battery, battery - an assault in which the assailant makes physical contact
attempt, attack - the act of attacking; "attacks on women increased last year"; "they made an attempt on his life"
mugging - assault with intent to rob
3.assault - thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1946Assault - thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1946
4.assault - the crime of forcing a woman to submit to sexual intercourse against her will
date rape - rape in which the rapist is known to the victim (as when they are on a date together)
sex crime, sex offense, sexual abuse, sexual assault - a statutory offense that provides that it is a crime to knowingly cause another person to engage in an unwanted sexual act by force or threat; "most states have replaced the common law definition of rape with statutes defining sexual assault"
Verb1.assault - attack someone physically or emotionallyassault - attack someone physically or emotionally; "The mugger assaulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him regularly"
bait - attack with dogs or set dogs upon
sic, set - urge to attack someone; "The owner sicked his dogs on the intruders"; "the shaman sics sorcerers on the evil spirits"
bulldog - attack viciously and ferociously
rush - attack suddenly
blindside - attack or hit on or from the side where the attacked person's view is obstructed
savage - attack brutally and fiercely
reassail - assail again; "Her old fears reassailed her"
jump - make a sudden physical attack on; "The muggers jumped the woman in the fur coat"
set upon, beset - assail or attack on all sides: "The zebra was beset by leopards"
ravish, assault, dishonor, dishonour, outrage, violate - force (someone) to have sex against their will; "The woman was raped on her way home at night"
desecrate, outrage, profane, violate - violate the sacred character of a place or language; "desecrate a cemetery"; "violate the sanctity of the church"; "profane the name of God"
molest - harass or assault sexually; make indecent advances to
2.assault - force (someone) to have sex against their will; "The woman was raped on her way home at night"
assail, assault, set on, attack - attack someone physically or emotionally; "The mugger assaulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him regularly"
3.assault - attack in speech or writingassault - attack in speech or writing; "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker"
criticise, criticize, pick apart, knock - find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws; "The paper criticized the new movie"; "Don't knock the food--it's free"
blackguard, clapperclaw, abuse, shout - use foul or abusive language towards; "The actress abused the policeman who gave her a parking ticket"; "The angry mother shouted at the teacher"
claw - attack as if with claws; "The politician clawed his rival"
vitriol - subject to bitter verbal abuse
rip - criticize or abuse strongly and violently; "The candidate ripped into his opponent mercilessly"
whang - attack forcefully; "whang away at the school reform plan"
barrage, bombard - address with continuously or persistently, as if with a barrage; "The speaker was barraged by an angry audience"; "The governor was bombarded with requests to grant a pardon to the convicted killer"
scald, blister, whip - subject to harsh criticism; "The Senator blistered the administration in his speech on Friday"; "the professor scaled the students"; "your invectives scorched the community"
rubbish - attack strongly
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

assault

noun
1. attack, campaign, strike, rush, storm, storming, raid, invasion, charge, offensive, onset, onslaught, foray, incursion, act of aggression, inroad The rebels are poised for a new assault.
attack defence, protection, resistance
2. battery, attack, beating, mugging, physical violence, GBH (Brit.), ABH (Brit.) At the police station, I was charged with assault.
3. abuse, attack, blame, criticism, censure, vilification, denigration, calumny, character assassination, stick (slang), sideswipe, impugnment He levelled a verbal assault against his opponents.
verb
1. strike, attack, beat, knock, punch, belt (informal), bang, batter, clip (informal), slap, bash (informal), deck (slang), sock (slang), chin (slang), smack, thump, set about, lay one on (slang), clout (informal), cuff, flog, whack, lob, beset, clobber (slang), smite (archaic), wallop (informal), swat, fall upon, set upon, lay into (informal), tonk (slang), lambast(e), belabour The gang assaulted him with iron bars.
2. attack, charge, storm, invade, fall on, strike at, swoop on, assail They would be compelled to assault the capital from the south.
attack protect, defend, resist
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

assault

nounverb
1. To set upon with violent force:
2. To hit heavily and repeatedly with violent blows:
Informal: lambaste.
Slang: clobber.
Idiom: rain blows on.
3. To compel (another) to participate in or submit to a sexual act:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
إعْتِداء جِنْسي، إغتِصابهُجوميُهاجِميُهاجِم جِنْسِياً
napadnoutpřepadeníútokznásilněníznásilnit
angrebangribebegå seksuelt overfaldseksuelt overgrebvoldtægt
megtámadás
áhlaup, áráslíkamsárás, nauîgunnauîgaráîast á
antpuolisišprievartautiišprievartavimasužpuolimas
izvarošanaizvarottrieciensuzbruktuzbrukums
napadnapasti
ırza geçmeırza tecavüzırzına geçmeksaldırısaldırmak

assault

[əˈsɔːlt]
A. N
1. (Mil, fig) → asalto m, ataque m (on a) to make or mount an assault onasaltar
2. (Jur) → agresión f
assault and battery (Jur) → lesiones fpl
see also indecent
B. VT
1. (Mil) → asaltar, atacar
2. (Jur) → asaltar, agredir; (sexually) → agredir sexualmente; (= rape) → violar
C. CPD assault course Npista f americana
assault craft Nbarcaza f de asalto
assault rifle Nfusil m de asalto, rifle m de asalto
assault troops NPLtropas fpl de asalto
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

assault

[əˈsɔːlt]
n
(MILITARY)assaut m
(gen) (= attack) → agression f
an assault on sb/sth → une attaque contre qn/qch
(LAW) (also assault and battery) → voies fpl de fait, coups mpl et blessures
to be charged with assault → être inculpé(e) de coups et blessures
(= verbal attack) → attaque f
(= sexual attack) (gen)agression f (LAW)attentat m à la pudeur
vt
(physically)attaquer
(sexually)violenterassault course (British) nparcours m du combattantassault weapon narme f d'assaut
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

assault

n
(Mil) → Sturm(angriff) m (→ on auf +acc); (fig)Angriff m(on gegen); to make an assault on somethingeinen (Sturm)angriff gegen etw führen
(Jur) → Körperverletzung f; assault and batteryKörperverletzung f; sexual assaultNotzucht f ? also indecent assault
vt
(Jur: = attack) → tätlich werden gegen; (sexually) → herfallen über (+acc); (= rape)sich vergehen an (+dat); to assault somebody with a stickjdn mit einem Stock angreifen
(Mil) → angreifen

assault

:
assault course
nÜbungsgelände nt; getting to the bathroom is like an assaultder Weg zum Badezimmer ist ein wahres Hindernisrennen
assault craft
nSturmlandefahrzeug nt
assault rifle
assault troops
plSturmtruppen pl
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

assault

[əˈsɔːlt]
1. n assault (on) (Mil) → assalto (a) (Law) → aggressione f (a)
assault and battery (Law) → minacce fpl e vie fpl di fatto
2. vt (Mil) → assaltare, assalire (Law) → aggredire
to assault sexually → compiere atti di libidine violenta contro
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

assault

(əˈsoːlt) verb
1. to attack, especially suddenly. The youths assaulted the night watchman.
2. to attack sexually; to rape.
noun
1. a (sudden) attack. a night assault on the fortress; His speech was a vicious assault on his opponent.
2. a sexual attack; a rape.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

assault

n asalto, agresión f; sexual — agresión sexual
English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
References in classic literature ?
He has committed a violent and unprovoked assault on me."
A TURBULENT Person was brought before a Judge to be tried for an assault with intent to commit murder, and it was proved that he had been variously obstreperous without apparent provocation, had affected the peripheries of several luckless fellow-citizens with the trunk of a small tree, and subsequently cleaned out the town.
In order that the circumstances may be clearly understood, I must revert for a moment to the period before the assault, and to the stories current in our camp of the treasure in jewels and gold stored up in the Palace of Seringapatam.
From beneath the half-raised shutters of the bungalow other bowmen did effective service in greater security, and after the first assault, Mugambi withdrew his entire force within the building.
Perhaps, at this new assault the men recalled the fact that they had been named mud diggers, and it made their situation thrice bitter.
Forty thousand were killed in the street-fighting of Tokio and in the futile assault on the Mikado's palace.
``That is a shrewd loss,'' said De Bracy; ``the knaves will find cover there to assault the castle more closely, and may, if not well watched, gain some unguarded corner of a tower, or some forgotten window, and so break in upon us.
The cities of Germany are absolutely free, they own but little country around them, and they yield obedience to the emperor when it suits them, nor do they fear this or any other power they may have near them, because they are fortified in such a way that every one thinks the taking of them by assault would be tedious and difficult, seeing they have proper ditches and walls, they have sufficient artillery, and they always keep in public depots enough for one year's eating, drinking, and firing.
From his point of view, the assault was unprovoked.
The windows were immediately closed, and the poor bourgeois, who had hardly had time to cast a frightened glance on this scene of gleams and tumult, returned, perspiring with fear to their wives, asking themselves whether the witches' sabbath was now being held in the parvis of Notre-Dame, or whether there was an assault of Burgundians, as in '64.
"Why, Tom had him up before Judge Robinson for assault and battery."
It was during this time that the company arrived, was drawn up by the captain, and disposed for either an escalade or an assault. Aramis watched over everything, to favor the labors of his friends.