1.  assault(n = noun.act) - close fighting during the culmination of a military attack;
is a kind of battle, conflict, engagement, fight
is a part of attack, onrush, onset, onslaught
has particulars: resisting arrest, storm

2.  assault(n = noun.act) - a threatened or attempted physical attack by someone who appears to be able to cause bodily harm if not stopped;
is a kind of attack, attempt
has particulars: aggravated assault, assault and battery, battery, mugging
Derived form verb assault₁

3.  assault(n = noun.animal) - thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1946;
is a kind of thoroughbred

4.  assault(n = noun.act) rape, ravishment, violation - the crime of forcing a woman to submit to sexual intercourse against her will;
is a kind of sex crime, sex offense, sexual abuse, sexual assault
has particulars: date rape, carnal abuse, statutory rape
Derived form verb assault₁

1.  assault(v = verb.competition) assail, attack, set on - attack someone physically or emotionally; "The mugger assaulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him regularly"
Derived forms noun assault₂, noun assault₄, noun assaulter₁, adjective assaultive₁
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s somebody; Something ----s somebody

2.  assault(v = verb.social) dishonor, dishonour, outrage, rape, ravish, violate - force (someone) to have sex against their will; "The woman was raped on her way home at night"
is one way to assail, assault, attack, set on
Derived form adjective assaultive₁
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s somebody

3.  assault(v = verb.communication) assail, attack, lash out, round, snipe - attack in speech or writing; "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker"
is one way to criticise, criticize, knock, pick apart
Derived forms noun assaulter₁, adjective assaultive₁
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s somebody; Something ----s somebody; Something ----s something

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. [1913 Webster]
"The Spanish general prepared to renew the assault." [1913 Webster]
"Unshaken bears the assault
Of their most dreaded foe, the strong southwest." [1913 Webster]

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. Clarendon. [1913 Webster]

3.  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. Blackstone. Wharton. [1913 Webster]
"Practically, however, the word assault is used to include the battery." [1913 Webster]

1.  To make an assault upon, as by a sudden rush of armed men; to attack with unlawful or insulting physical violence or menaces. [1913 Webster]
"Insnared, assaulted, overcome, led bound." [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]
" In the latter sense, assail is more common." [1913 Webster]
"Before the gates, the cries of babes newborn, . . .
Assault his ears." [1913 Webster]

assault, n. & v.
--n.
1 a violent physical or verbal attack.
2 a Law an act that threatens physical harm to a person (whether or not actual harm is done). b euphem. an act of rape.
3 (attrib.) relating to or used in an assault ( assault craft; assault troops).
4 a vigorous start made to a lengthy or difficult task.
5 a final rush on a fortified place, esp. at the end of a prolonged attack.
--v.tr.
1 make an assault on.
2 euphem. rape.

Idiom:
assault and battery Law a threatening act that results in physical harm done to a person. assault course an obstacle course used in training soldiers etc.

Derivative:
assaulter n. assaultive adj.

Etymology:
ME f. OF asaut, assauter ult. f. L (salire salt- leap)

N  attack, assault, assault and battery, onset, onslaught, charge, aggression, offense, incursion, inroad, invasion, irruption, outbreak, estrapade, ruade, coupe de main, sally, sortie, camisade, raid, foray, run at, run against, dead set at, storm, storming, boarding, escalade, siege, investment, obsession, bombardment, cannonade, fire, volley, platoon fire, file fire, fusillade, sharpshooting, broadside, raking fire, cross fire, volley of grapeshot, whiff of the grape, feu d'enfer, cut, thrust, lunge, pass, passado, carte and tierce, home thrust, coupe de bec, kick, punch, battue, razzia, Jacquerie, dragonnade, devastation, eboulement, assailant, aggressor, invader, base of operations, point of attack, echelon, attacking, aggressive, offensive, obsidional, up in arms, on the offensive, Int, up and at them!, the din of arms, the yell of savage rage, the shriek of agony, the groan of death, their fatal hands no second stroke intend, thirst for glory quells the love of life.

VB  attack, assault, assail, invade, set upon, fall upon, charge, impugn, break a lance with, enter the lists, assume the offensive, take the offensive, be the aggressor, become the aggressor, strike the first blow, draw first blood, throw the first stone at, lift a hand against, draw the sword against, take up the cudgels, advance against, march against, march upon, harry, come on, show fight, strike at, poke at, thrust at, aim a blow at, deal a blow at, give one a blow, fetch one a blow, fetch one a kick, give one a kick, have a cut at, have a shot at, take a cut at, take a shot at, have a fling at, have a shy at, be down upon, pounce upon, fall foul of, pitch into, launch out against, bait, slap on the face, make a thrust at, make a pass at, make a set at, make a dead set at, bear down upon, close with, come to close quarters, bring to bay, ride full tilt against, attack tooth and nail, go at hammer and tongs, let fly at, dash at, run a tilt at, rush at, tilt at, run at, fly at, hawk at, have at, let out at, make a dash, make a rush at, strike home, drive one hard, press one hard, be hard upon, run down, strike at the root of, lay about one, run amuck, aim at, draw a bead on, fire upon, fire at, fire a shot at, shoot at, pop at, level at, let off a gun at, open fire, pepper, bombard, shell, pour a broadside into, fire a volley, fire red-hot shot, spring a mine, throw a stone, throw stones at, stone, lapidate, pelt, hurl at, hurl against, hurl at the head of, rock beset, besiege, beleaguer, lay siege to, invest, open the trenches, plant a battery, sap, mine, storm, board, scale the walls, cut and thrust, bayonet, butt, kick, strike, whip, assail, impugn, malign (detract), bomb, rocket, blast.

aggravated assault, amphibious assault, assault and battery, assault gun, assault rifle, sexual assault