Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Assault \As*sault"\, n. [OE. asaut, assaut, OF. assaut, asalt,
   F. assaut, LL. assaltus; L. ad + saltus a leaping, a
   springing, salire to leap. See {Assail}.]
   1. A violent onset or attack with physical means, as blows,
      weapons, etc.; an onslaught; the rush or charge of an
      attacking force; onset; as, to make assault upon a man, a
      house, or a town.

            The Spanish general prepared to renew the assault.
                                                  --Prescott.

            Unshaken bears the assault Of their most dreaded
            foe, the strong southwest.            --Wordsworth.

   2. A violent onset or attack with moral weapons, as words,
      arguments, appeals, and the like; as, to make an assault
      on the prerogatives of a prince, or on the constitution of
      a government. --Clarendon.

   3. (Law) An apparently violent attempt, or willful offer with
      force or violence, to do hurt to another; an attempt or
      offer to beat another, accompanied by a degree of
      violence, but without touching his person, as by lifting
      the fist, or a cane, in a threatening manner, or by
      striking at him, and missing him. If the blow aimed takes
      effect, it is a battery. --Blackstone. Wharton.

            Practically, however, the word assault is used to
            include the battery.                  --Mozley & W.

   Syn: Attack; invasion; incursion; descent; onset; onslaught;
        charge; storm.

Assault \As*sault"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Assaulted}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Assaulting}.] [From {Assault}, n.: cf. OF. assaulter,
   LL. assaltare.]
   1. To make an assault upon, as by a sudden rush of armed men;
      to attack with unlawful or insulting physical violence or
      menaces.

            Insnared, assaulted, overcome, led bound. --Milton.

   2. To attack with moral means, or with a view of producing
      moral effects; to attack by words, arguments, or
      unfriendly measures; to assail; as, to assault a
      reputation or an administration.

            Before the gates, the cries of babes newborn, . . .
            Assault his ears.                     --Dryden.

   Note: In the latter sense, assail is more common.

   Syn: To attack; assail; invade; encounter; storm; charge. See
        {Attack}.

Source : WordNet®

assault
     n 1: close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
     2: a threatened or attempted physical attack by someone who
        appears to be able to cause bodily harm if not stopped
     3: thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1946
     4: the crime of forcing a woman to submit to sexual intercourse
        against her will [syn: {rape}, {violation}, {ravishment}]

assault
     v 1: attack someone physically or emotionally; "The mugger
          assaulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him
          regularly" [syn: {assail}, {set on}, {attack}]
     2: force (someone) to have sex against their will; "The woman
        was raped on her way home at night" [syn: {rape}, {ravish},
         {violate}, {dishonor}, {dishonour}, {outrage}]
     3: attack in speech or writing; "The editors of the
        left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker" [syn: {attack},
         {round}, {assail}, {lash out}, {snipe}]