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assault

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noun British English pronunciation: assault /əˈsɔːlt/ 
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singularassault
pluralassaults
  1. 1
    [countable/uncountable] a physical attack on someone, or the crime of physically attacking someone

    an assault on a young student

    He was charged with assault.

    guilty of indecent assault

  2. 2
    [countable] an attack by the armed forces

    a NATO air assault

    assault on:

    the assault on Pohang-dong

    1. a.
      [only before noun] used in a military attack

      an assault rifle/vehicle/weapon

  3. 3
    [countable] a strong criticism

    The article was a vicious assault on Bell’s integrity.

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