1.assault用作动词的基本意思是“袭击,殴打”,指在愤怒中以暴力突然袭击对方,打斗双方彼此能接触到,常指近身的肉搏,也指出于嫉妒等恶意动机而进行的人身攻击; assault引申可作“强奸”的委婉语。
2.assault是及物动词,接名词或代词作宾语,作“强暴”解时,常用于被动结构。

用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
We assaulted the city on all sides.我们从四面八方向该城发起突击。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
He was assaulted with eggs and stones.他遭到别人用鸡蛋和石块的袭击。
The minister was assaulted by a barrage of abuse from the angry strikers.这位部长遭到愤怒的罢工者的一阵辱骂。
She was too shaken after being assaulted to report the incident to the police.她遭到强暴后失魂落魄,竟没有向警方报案。

assault, attack, beset, charge
参见attack条。

［同义词］ n.  attack v.  aggress, assail, attack
［反义词］ n.  safeguard v.  defend, protect
［词源］＜古法语assalt(攻击,袭击)

assault用作名词意思是“攻击,猛袭,突袭”,可指口头上言论的抨击,也可指武力上的攻击或袭击。

The army launched a major assault against the rebel town.军队向叛乱的城镇发动大规模的突袭。
They responded with assaults against the enemy's bases.他们向敌人阵地发起反攻。
He was sent to prison for assault.他因袭击他人而被送进了监狱。
His plan is under assault from all sides.他的方案正受到各方的抨击。