as·sault /əˈsɔlt/
 攻擊,突襲(vt.)襲擊,突襲(vi.)動武
 As·sault n.
 1. A violent onset or attack with physical means, as blows, weapons, etc.; an onslaught; the rush or charge of an attacking force; onset; as, to make assault upon a man, a house, or a town.
    The Spanish general prepared to renew the assault.   --Prescott.
 Unshaken bears the assault
 Of their most dreaded foe, the strong southwest.   --Wordsworth.
 2. A violent onset or attack with moral weapons, as words, arguments, appeals, and the like; as, to make an assault on the prerogatives of a prince, or on the constitution of a government.
 3. Law An apparently violent attempt, or willful offer with force or violence, to do hurt to another; an attempt or offer to beat another, accompanied by a degree of violence, but without touching his person, as by lifting the fist, or a cane, in a threatening manner, or by striking at him, and missing him. If the blow aimed takes effect, it is a battery.
    Practically, however, the word assault is used to include the battery.   --Mozley & W.
 Syn: -- Attack; invasion; incursion; descent; onset; onslaught; charge; storm.
 As·sault, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assaulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Assaulting.]
 1. To make an assault upon, as by a sudden rush of armed men; to attack with unlawful or insulting physical violence or menaces.
    Insnared, assaulted, overcome, led bound.   --Milton.
 2. To attack with moral means, or with a view of producing moral effects; to attack by words, arguments, or unfriendly measures; to assail; as, to assault a reputation or an administration.
 Before the gates, the cries of babes newborn, . . .
 Assault his ears.   --Dryden.
 Note: ☞ In the latter sense, assail is more common.
 Syn: -- To attack; assail; invade; encounter; storm; charge. See Attack.
 ◄ ►
 assault
      n 1: close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
      2: a threatened or attempted physical attack by someone who
         appears to be able to cause bodily harm if not stopped
      3: thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1946
      4: the crime of forcing a woman to submit to sexual intercourse
         against her will [syn: rape, violation, ravishment]
      v 1: attack someone physically or emotionally; "The mugger
           assaulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him
           regularly" [syn: assail, set on, attack]
      2: force (someone) to have sex against their will; "The woman
         was raped on her way home at night" [syn: rape, ravish,
          violate, dishonor, dishonour, outrage]
      3: attack in speech or writing; "The editors of the
         left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker" [syn: attack,
          round, assail, lash out, snipe]