To apply violent force to someone or something.
This species of snake will only attack humans if it feels threatened.
To aggressively challenge a person, idea, etc., with words (particularly in newspaper headlines, because it typesets into less space than "criticize" or similar).
She published an article attacking the recent pay cuts.
To begin to affect; to act upon injuriously or destructively; to begin to decompose or waste.
To deal with something in a direct way; to set to work upon.
I attacked the meal with a hearty appetite.
To aim balls at the batsman’s wicket.
To set a field, or bowl in a manner designed to get wickets.
To bat aggressively, so as to score runs quickly.
To move forward in an active attempt to score a point, as opposed to trying not to concede.
To accelerate quickly in an attempt to get ahead of the other riders.