1. past tense of attack; to assail or assault someone or something with force or violence
The enemy attacked the fortress at dawn.
O inimigo atacou a fortaleza ao amanhecer.
2. to criticize or challenge someone or something aggressively
The journalist attacked the politician's policies.
O jornalista atacou as políticas do político.
3. to begin to affect or act upon something (disease, corrosion, etc.)
The acid attacked the metal surface.
O ácido atacou a superfície metálica.