'assault' definitions:

Definition of 'assault'

(from WordNet)
noun
Close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
noun
A threatened or attempted physical attack by someone who appears to be able to cause bodily harm if not stopped
noun
Thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1946
noun
The crime of forcing a woman to submit to sexual intercourse against her will [syn: rape, violation, assault, ravishment]
verb
Attack someone physically or emotionally; "The mugger assaulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him regularly" [syn: assail, assault, set on, attack]
verb
Force (someone) to have sex against their will; "The woman was raped on her way home at night" [syn: rape, ravish, violate, assault, dishonor, dishonour, outrage]
verb
Attack in speech or writing; "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker" [syn: attack, round, assail, lash out, snipe, assault]

Synonyms of 'assault'

From: Moby Thesaurus