C1 verb Formel

assault

/əˈsɔːlt/

To make a sudden, violent physical attack on a person or place, or to criticize someone or something very strongly. In a legal context, it can refer to the act of causing someone to apprehend immediate violence.

Exemples

3 sur 5
1

He was charged with trying to assault a security guard outside the stadium.

He was accused of attempting to physically attack a guard outside the stadium.

2

The military forces were ordered to assault the enemy stronghold at daybreak.

The troops were commanded to launch an attack on the fortified position at dawn.

3

That neon yellow shirt is really assaulting my eyes right now!

That bright shirt is very unpleasant and overwhelming to look at.

Famille de mots

Nom
assault
Verb
assault
Adjectif
assaulting
Apparenté
assailant
💡

Astuce mémo

Think of 'A-Salt'. If someone throws a bag of salt into your eyes, it is a painful physical assault.

Quiz rapide

The defendant was found guilty of attempting to _______ a police officer during the protest.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : assault

Exemples

1

He was charged with trying to assault a security guard outside the stadium.

everyday

He was accused of attempting to physically attack a guard outside the stadium.

2

The military forces were ordered to assault the enemy stronghold at daybreak.

formal

The troops were commanded to launch an attack on the fortified position at dawn.

3

That neon yellow shirt is really assaulting my eyes right now!

informal

That bright shirt is very unpleasant and overwhelming to look at.

4

The paper seeks to assault the prevailing theories of economic growth using new data sets.

academic

The article aims to strongly challenge and criticize existing economic theories with new data.

5

The company plans to assault the European market with a series of low-cost, high-quality products.

business

The firm intends to aggressively enter and compete within the European market.

Famille de mots

Nom
assault
Verb
assault
Adjectif
assaulting
Apparenté
assailant

Collocations courantes

brutally assault To attack someone in an extremely violent and cruel manner
verbally assault To attack someone using harsh, aggressive, or abusive language
physically assault To attack someone with physical force
assault the senses Something so intense it overwhelms sight, smell, or hearing
sexual assault Illegal physical contact of a sexual nature

Phrases Courantes

assault and battery

A legal term for a physical attack involving both the threat and the act

assault on the senses

An experience that is overwhelming to one's perception

armed assault

An attack carried out with weapons

Souvent confondu avec

assault vs insult

An insult is a verbal offense to someone's feelings, while an assault is a violent physical or intense metaphorical attack.

assault vs battery

In many legal systems, assault is the threat of violence, whereas battery is the actual physical contact.

📝

Notes d'usage

While primarily used for physical violence, it is common in metaphorical contexts, such as 'assaulting one's intelligence' or 'assaulting a market'. In legal English, its definition varies by jurisdiction, sometimes requiring only the threat of harm.

⚠️

Erreurs courantes

Learners often forget that 'assault' is a transitive verb and does not usually require a preposition like 'on' when used as a verb (e.g., 'they assaulted the city' is correct, not 'they assaulted on the city').

💡

Astuce mémo

Think of 'A-Salt'. If someone throws a bag of salt into your eyes, it is a painful physical assault.

📖

Origine du mot

Derived from the Old French word 'assault', which comes from the Latin 'adsaltus', meaning 'to leap upon'.

Modèles grammaticaux

Transitive verb: takes a direct object. Regular verb: -ed suffix for past tense and past participle. Can be used as both a noun and a verb with the same spelling.
🌍

Contexte culturel

In Western legal systems, assault is a serious criminal offense, and the term is frequently used in news reporting regarding crime and military operations.

Quiz rapide

The defendant was found guilty of attempting to _______ a police officer during the protest.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : assault

Mots lis

overall

B2

Describing the total or general nature of something when all parts or factors are considered together. It refers to the whole of a situation rather than specific details or individual components.

overlap

B2

To cover part of the same area of space or time as something else, or to have some common qualities or features. It describes situations where two things occupy the same physical space partially or where two events happen simultaneously for a period.

overseas

B2

Relating to, coming from, or situated in a country across the sea or ocean. It is used to describe international contexts, particularly travel, trade, or living arrangements in a foreign land.

panel

B2

A panel is a small group of people brought together to discuss a specific topic, provide expert advice, or make decisions. It can also refer to a distinct, flat, and often rectangular section of a larger surface, such as a wall, door, or control board.

parameter

B2

A parameter is a limit or boundary that defines the scope of a particular process, system, or activity. In technical or mathematical contexts, it refers to a measurable factor that sets the conditions of an operation.

passive

B2

Describing someone who allows things to happen or accepts what others do without resistance or participation. It is also used in grammar to describe a sentence structure where the subject is the recipient of the action rather than the performer.

persist

B2

To continue firmly in an opinion or a course of action despite difficulty, opposition, or failure. It also refers to a state or condition that continues to exist or endure over a prolonged period.

philosophy

B2

Philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline. It also refers to a specific set of beliefs, values, or principles that guide the behavior and outlook of an individual or an organization.

portion

B2

A portion is a part of a whole that has been divided or allocated to a specific person or purpose. It is most commonly used to describe a serving of food or a specific share of a larger amount, such as money or time.

pose

B2

To present or constitute a problem, danger, or challenge that needs to be addressed. It also refers to the physical act of assuming a specific position for a photograph, painting, or artistic work.

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