verb

1. To apply violent force to someone or something.

   "This species of snake will only attack humans if it feels threatened."

2. 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."

3. To begin to affect; to act upon injuriously or destructively; to begin to decompose or waste.

4. To deal with something in a direct way; to set to work upon.

   "I attacked the meal with a hearty appetite."

5. To aim balls at the batsman’s wicket.

6. To set a field, or bowl in a manner designed to get wickets.

7. To bat aggressively, so as to score runs quickly.

8. To move forward in an active attempt to score a point, as opposed to trying not to concede.

9. To accelerate quickly in an attempt to get ahead of the other riders.