1. A physical or criminal attack on a person or people; literally, leaping on: "To the horror of the audience and viewers on TV, the lion assaulted the lion tamer in the middle of the circus act."

"The robber was charged by the police with robbery and assault with a deadly weapon."

2. A military attack or onslaught: "The military forces were involved in assaults that lasted for several years."

1. To make a physical attack on a place or a person: The criminal was convicted of assaulting and robbing Warren in the parking lot of the store."

"Bernice accused Lewis of sexually assaulting her."

2. To use violent force or to bombard someone or the senses with something undesirable or unpleasant: "The ears of the people were assaulted by the loud music from the neighbor's apartment."
3. To carry out a military offensive against an enemy using weapons: "The unit of special forces parachuted into the camp and assaulted the gang and rescued the hostages that were kidnapped by the criminals."

A legal term for a crime of threatening someone together with the act of making physical contact with him or her: "When Mario and Leroy got into an argument in the store, Mario said he would knock Leroy down and spit on him and then he actually kicked Leroy in the left knee which caused him to fall down on the floor and then Mario was charged with assault and battery by the police when he was arrested."