to hurt them: The attack took place as Mr Owen was leaving his home. I Police are investigating a series of racial attacks in the city.
+ on a serious attack on a young Turkish worker in Germany yesterday
mugging /mAgig/ [n C] an attack on someone in a public place such as a street, in order to steal something from them: Every year there are thousands of muggings on the subway.
assault /э'sxit/ [n C/U] an attack on someone ~ use this especially to talk about the crime of attacking someone: Reed was serving a 5-year jail sentence for burglary and assault + on Statistics show an increase in the number of assaults on women.
BI a military attack
attack /g'taek/ [n C] when a military force attacks a place or country, using weapons, aircraft, soldiers etc: The attack began at dawn. I a terrorist attack + on a care/u//y planned attack on American air bases
launch/mount an attack (=start an attack) Troops launched an attack on the city in the early hours of the morning.
• m
invasion /m'veryn/ [n C] when an army from one country enters another country and tries to control it: Hundreds of civilians were killed while resisting the invasion. + of Mussolini's invasion of Abyssinia in
1935
American/Russian/German etc invasion
the Russian invasion of Afghanistan
raid /reid/ [n С] a short, quick attack by a group of soldiers, planes, or ships on a place that belongs to an enemy + on Several raids were made on frontier villages.
air raid (=when aircraft drop bombs on a place) A series of air raids almost totally destroyed the ancient city centre.
ambusll /'aembo// [n C] a sudden attack by a group of soldiers who have been hiding and waiting for someone: Several Red Cross workers were killed in an ambush only five miles outside the town.
plural ambushes
AVAILABLE/NOT AVAILABLE
Ш a person or place that is attacked
victim vikt^m |n C] someone who has
been attacked: The man ran off when his
victim called for help.
be the victim of a crime/assaultiattack
etc Saleem. aged 16. was the victim of a vicious racial attack yesterday evening.
target ;'ta:rgj>t [п С] a person or place
48
that someone decides to attack + /or Government buildings have recently been a target for terrorist attacks.
not available
unavailable/unobtainable /лпз veibb^l, ,лпэЬ'(етэЬз1/ iadj not before noun) if something is unavailable or unobtainable, it is impossible to get it or buy it: Fresh fruits were unavailable in winter. I Good apartments to rent had become almost unobtainable.
AVOID
AVAILABLE/ NOT AVAILABLE
see also get
D available for someone to
have or use
available /o'veilob,?!/ [adj] if something is
available, you can get it, buy it. or use it: Do you have any accommodation available? I There's no room for more books - we've used up all the available space. I This treatment is not available in all hospitals.
+ to Grants are available to students who have high grades. + /rom His latest book is available from all good bookstores.
readily/freely available (=very easy to get) Drugs like heroin are readily available on the streets.
make sth available These statistics are never sold or made available to the public.
Spare /spcor/1adj] something that is spare is not being used now. but it can be used if someone needs it: There are some spare chairs in the next room if you need them. I 1 need 50 cents for the parking meter - do you have any spare change?
free /fri:/ \adj] a room or seat that is free is not being used by anyone now. and no- one has asked for it be kept for them to use later: Is this seat free? have sth free The hotel never has any rooms free over the Christmas period.
to make sure that something bad does not happen
avoid /a'vDid/ [u T, to make sure that something bad does not happen to you. either by doing something or by deliberately not doing something: You can avoid a lot of problems if you use travellers cheques. I helping students to avoid common errors I businessmen who try to avoid taxes
avoid doing sth (=not do something, in
A
order to make sure that you do not have problems) It's best to avoid going out in the strong midc/ay sun. I Yol should avoid making up your mind before you know all the facts.
Don't say 'avoid to do something'. Say avoid doing sth,
get oat of sth / get aot nv (Sth)' [phrasa/ uerb T] informal to avoid doing something that you should do or that you have promised to do: / was supposed to stay at home with my baby sister today, but I'll try to get out of it.
get out of doing sth He always manages to get out of paying for the drinks.
get around sth (also get round sth
British) ' gel (o)'raund (sth)/ [phrasa/ verb T] informal, to find a way of avoiding a difficult or unpleasant situation, so that you do not have to deal with it: There s no way of getting around it - you're going to have to tell her the truth, i Isn't there any way of getting round these regulations?
В to keep away from a person or place
avoid /э'уэid/ (и T] to keep away from a person, because you do not want to talk to them, or keep away from a place, because
there are problems there: I'm sure Sarah's been avoiding me recently. I Drivers are advised to avoid Elm Street, because traffic is heavy and there are long delays.
avoid sb/sth. (ike the plague informal
(=try very hard to avoid them) Except when they were filming, the two actors avoided each other like the plague.
stay away/keep away /stei
,ki:p 9'wei/1phrasal verb I] to not go near a person or place, because they may be dangerous or may cause problems + from That evening he received a note warning him to stay away from the camp. I Keep away from my children. or I'll call the police, stay/keep well a way (=completely avoid) She walked along the path, keeping well away from the cliff's edge.