Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

fasten:Mamma fastened the picture on the wall.

at|ta|ché /ætæ ʃe I , [AM ] æ tæʃe I / (attachés ) N‑COUNT An attaché is a member of staff in an embassy, usually with a special responsibility for something.

at|ta |ché case (attaché cases ) N‑COUNT An attaché case is a flat case for holding documents.

at|tached /ətæ tʃt/

1 ADJ If you are attached to someone or something, you like them very much. □ [+ to ] She is very attached to her family and friends.

2 ADJ If someone is attached to an organization or group of people, they are working with them, often only for a short time. □ [+ to ] Ford was attached to the battalion's first line of transport.

3 ADJ If one organization or institution is attached to a larger organization, it is part of that organization and is controlled and run by it. □ [+ to ] At one time the schools were mainly attached to the church.

at|tach|ment /ətæ tʃmənt/ (attachments )

1 N‑VAR If you have an attachment to someone or something, you are fond of them or loyal to them. □ [+ to ] As a teenager she formed a strong attachment to one of her teachers.

2 N‑COUNT An attachment is a device that can be fixed onto a machine in order to enable it to do different jobs. □ [+ for ] Some models come with attachments for dusting.

3 N‑COUNT An attachment is an extra document that is added to another document. □ [+ to ] Justice Fitzgerald included a 120-page discussion paper as an attachment to the annual report.

4 N‑COUNT In computing, an attachment is a file which is attached separately to a message that you send to someone. □  When you send an e-mail you can also send a sound or graphic file as an attachment.

at|tack ◆◆◆ /ətæ k/ (attacks , attacking , attacked )

1 VERB To attack a person or place means to try to hurt or damage them using physical violence. □ [V n] He bundled the old lady into her hallway and brutally attacked her. □ [V ] While Haig and Foch argued, the Germans attacked. ● N‑VAR Attack is also a noun. □ [+ on ] …a campaign of air attacks on strategic targets. □ [+ from ] Refugees had come under attack from federal troops.

2 VERB If you attack a person, belief, idea, or act, you criticize them strongly. □ [V n] He publicly attacked the people who've been calling for secret ballot nominations. □ [V n + for ] A newspaper ran an editorial attacking him for being a showman. [Also V n as n/adj] ● N‑VAR Attack is also a noun. □  The role of the state as a prime mover in planning social change has been under attack. □ [+ on ] The committee yesterday launched a scathing attack on British business for failing to invest.

3 VERB If something such as a disease, a chemical, or an insect attacks something, it harms or spoils it. □ [V n] The virus seems to have attacked his throat. □ [be V -ed] Several key crops failed when they were attacked by pests. ● N‑UNCOUNT Attack is also a noun. □ [+ from ] This greatly reduces attacks from pests and diseases.

4 VERB If you attack a job or a problem, you start to deal with it in an energetic way. □ [V n] …an attempt to attack the budget problem.