English
assault
Pronunciation
  • IPA: /əˈsɔːlt/
  • (regional) IPA: /əˈsʌlt/
Noun

assault

  1. A violent onset or attack with physical means, for example blows, weapons, etc.
    to make assault upon a man, a house, or a town
    • The Spanish general prepared to renew the assault.
    • 1814, William Wordsworth, The Excursion, Book 5
      Unshaken bears the assault / Of their most dreaded foe, the strong southwest.
  2. A violent onset or attack with moral weapons, for example words, arguments, appeals, and the like
    to make an assault on the prerogatives of a prince, or on the constitution of a government
  3. (criminal legal) An attempt to commit battery: a violent attempt, or willful effort with force or violence, to do hurt to another, but without necessarily touching his person, as by lifting a fist in a threatening manner, or by striking at him and missing him.
  4. (singulare tantum, legal) The crime whose action is such an attempt.
  5. (tort legal) An act that causes someone to apprehend imminent bodily harm.
  6. (singulare tantum, legal) The tort whose action is such an act.
  7. (fencing) A non-competitive combat between two fencers.
Synonyms Translations Verb

assault (assaults, present participle assaulting; past and past participle assaulted)

  1. (transitive) To attack, physically or figuratively.
    Tom was accused of assaulting another man outside a nightclub.
    Loud music assaulted our ears as we entered the building.
  2. (transitive) To threaten or harass.
Translations

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