English > onset: 2 senses > noun 2, act| Meaning | (military) an offensive against an enemy / enemy (using weapons). |
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| Synonyms | attack, onslaught, onrush |
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| Category | military, armed forces, armed services, military machine, war machine | The military forces of a nation |
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| Parts | assault | Close fighting during the culmination of a military attack |
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| Narrower | banzai attack, banzai charge | A mass attack of troops without concern for casualties |
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| blitz, blitzkrieg | A swift and violent military offensive with intensive aerial bombardment |
| bombing, bombardment | An attack by dropping bombs |
| charge | An impetuous rush toward someone or something |
| counterattack, countermove | An attack by a defending force against an attacking enemy force in order to regain lost ground or cut off enemy advance units etc. |
| diversion, diversionary attack | An attack calculated to draw enemy / enemy defense away from the point of the principal attack |
| fire, firing | The act of firing / firing / firing weapons or artillery at an enemy / enemy |
| ground attack | An attack by ground troops / troops |
| penetration, incursion | An attack that penetrates into enemy territory |
| strafe | An attack of machine-gun fire or cannon fire from a low flying airplane |
| strike | An attack that is intended to seize or inflict damage on or destroy an objective |
| surprise attack, coup de main | An attack without warning |
| Broader | operation, military operation | Activity by a military or naval force (as a maneuver or campaign) |
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| Spanish | arremetida, asalto, ataque |
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| Catalan | assalt, atac, envestida, escomesa |
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