ambusham‧bush /ˈæmbʊʃ/ ●○○ noun [countable, uncountable] 
The soldiers were killed in an ambush. In winter the danger of ambush is much reduced.lie/wait in ambush Armed police lay in ambush behind the hedge.► see thesaurus at attack—ambush verb [transitive]: Everybody thought our train would be ambushed, but we got out safely.
WORD ORIGINambush
Origin:
1300-1400 Old French embuschier, from en ‘in’ + busche ‘wood’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Six or seven of the passengers were killed in an ambush on the narrowest part of the road.
- They moved slowly, knowing that in the next clump of trees enemy soldiers might be lying in ambush.
- He no longer walked around as if every step might take him into an ambush.
- I walk out of the building tensing myself for the ambush.
- If you must walk alone at night keep a look out for potential ambush spots and cross the road to avoid them.
- LoEsheLacy, a junior at McClymonds High School, was killed in the ambush.
- Richard Montacune had been driven from his first vantage post, where ambush had given him the edge of surprise.
- The sappers crept a little closer, past the vacated ambush site.
THESAURUSto attack a person
to use violence against someone and try to hurt them: · She was attacked by a man with a baseball bat.· Police dogs are trained to attack.
if a group of people ambush someone, they hide and wait for them and then attack them: · The judge was ambushed by gunmen as he drove to work at the courthouse.
to attack someone and take money from them in a public place such as a street: · He was mugged on his way home from school.
to attack someone with a knife: · The victim had been stabbed in the neck.
to attack and hurt someone – used especially when talking about this as a criminal offence: · He assaulted a flight attendant who refused to serve him more drinks.
written to be attacked by a group of people: · He died outside his home after being set upon by a gang of youths.
to suddenly change your behaviour and attack the person you are with, when they do not expect this: · The dog suddenly turned on him, sinking its teeth into his arm.
noun [countable, uncountable] an act of using weapons against an enemy in a war: · The US was threatening to launch an attack on Iran.· The men had been carrying out rocket attacks on British forces.· Bombs have been falling throughout the night, and the city is still under attack (=being attacked).
noun [countable, uncountable] an occasion when an army enters a country and tries to take control of it: · The Allies began their invasion of Europe.· The threat of foreign invasion is very real.
noun [countable] a short attack on a place by soldiers or planes, intended to cause damage but not take control: · an air raid· NATO warplanes carried out a series of bombing raids on the city.· The village has been the target of frequent raids by rebel groups.
noun [countable] a sudden military attack, especially after a serious disagreement: · Senior Israeli officials warned that they were still considering a military strike.· the possibility of a nuclear strike
noun [countable] a military attack intended to take control of a city, area, or building controlled by an enemy: · The final military assault on Kwangju began at 3 am on May 27.· Hitler launched an all-out assault (=using as many soldiers, weapons, planes etc as possible) on Russia.
noun [countable, uncountable] a sudden attack by people who have been waiting and hiding, especially an attack on a vehicle or people who are travelling somewhere: · Five soldiers were shot in the back and killed in the ambush.· Enemy forces waiting in ambush opened fire on the vehicle.
noun [countable, uncountable] a military attack made in response to an attack by an enemy: · Government forces launched a counterattack against the guerillas.· If they successfully occupied the city, they would need to be capable of defending it against enemy counterattack.
noun [countable] formal a large violent attack by an army: · In 1544 there was a full-scale onslaught on France, in which the English took Boulogne.· The troops were preparing for another onslaught against the enemy.
Longman Language Activatorto attack someone suddenly and unexpectedly if a group of people ambush someone, they hide and wait for them and then suddenly attack them: · The rebel group successfully ambushed a regiment of American reinforcements.· He was afraid he would be stopped by government troops or, even worse, ambushed by the Vietcong. · Parker ambushed a school bus on a field trip and held 17 children and their teacher hostage.
to suddenly be attacked by people or animals, especially when you are going somewhere - used especially in written or literary contexts: · He had been set upon by bat-wielding racists, so he understood how I felt.· The drivers were set upon by a mob, including several women, which showered them with stones.
also turn upon to suddenly attack someone you are with, especially when it is very unexpected: · Red with rage, Frank turned on Anna, grasping her arm in a vice-like grip.· Then the warriors turned upon each other, for a fight to the death.
to make a quick sudden attack especially on someone who is not expecting to be attacked: · They felt sure the killer would strike again, but could not say when.· The police struck at dawn in a carefully timed operation to catch the bombers.
to suddenly jump on another person from a place where you have been hiding, in order to catch or attack them: be ready/waiting/set to pounce: · He crouched on the ground, like an animal ready to pounce.pounce on: · Before he could rescue it, the cat pounced on the bird and carried it to the bushes.
informal to attack someone suddenly and usually from behind, in order to injure them or to rob them: · Two guys tried to jump me in the park last night.· He climbed over the wall and jumped the guard, easily overpowering him.
a military attack when a military force attacks a place or country, using weapons, aircraft, soldiers etc: · The attack began at dawn.· The caller warned that the attacks will continue until the demands are met.attack on: · missile attacks on civilian targetsnaval/air/artillery/terrorist etc attack: · The city is exposed and vulnerable to air attack.· Eleven people were injured in a rocket attack on Sunday night.launch/mount an attack: · International terrorists have mounted an attack aimed at disrupting the huge tourist industry here.go on the attack (=start to attack someone or something): · To my horror, the soldiers went on the attack, killing men, women and children indiscriminately.
when an army from one country enters another country and tries to control it: · The fear of an invasion by rebels is always present.foreign/military etc invasion: · Some analysts fear that increasing desperation could lead to a military invasion of the country's southern neighbors.· the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia
a short quick attack by a group of soldiers, planes, or ships on a place that belongs to an enemy: military/bombing/aerial etc raid: · He led a commando raid in the desert.· a surprise raid · NATO bombing raidsair raid (=one carried out by planes dropping bombs): · Some of the most beautiful architecture in the city was destroyed in the air raids.· air-raid sirensraid on/against: · Sixty people are thought to have been killed in the raid on the village just west of the capital.· John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry· As a teenager, he was involved in a raid against a village of Omaha Indians.
a sudden attack by a group of soldiers who have been hiding and waiting for someone: be killed/shot etc in an ambush: · Six or seven of the passengers were killed in an ambush on the narrowest part of the road.lie/wait in ambush (=wait in order to ambush): · They moved slowly, knowing that in the next clump of trees enemy soldiers might be lying in ambush.
a military attack to take control of a place controlled by the enemy: aerial/military/naval etc assault: · a massive armed assault on the cityassault on/against: · Only a successful assault on the rebels' headquarters could have ended the civil war.
a sudden attack, especially one from the air, using bombs: · The rebels launched a retaliatory strike.air/nuclear/missile etc strike: · The bomb strike took place on a camp near Krek. · nuclear strike capability
a planned attack involving large forces and often taking place over several weeks or months, especially as part of a plan to win a war: military/nuclear/air etc offensive: · The great military offensive had failed, and it seemed victory was escaping them.· The rebel offensive resumed on Thursday, leaving 12 dead and many injured.launch/mount an offensive: · Government troops launched an offensive against UNITA positions in the north. offensive on/against: · The President announced a counter-offensive on the rebels.
the act of attacking a country, especially when that country has not attacked first - used especially in political contexts: · The invasion was condemned as 'blatant aggression' by the British Prime Minister.· The President promised to use all his powers to prevent further aggression.armed/foreign/military etc agression: · another example of communist aggressionaggression against: · As our older generation knows from experience, unchecked aggression against a small nation is a prelude to international disaster.an act of aggression: · Any eastward expansion would be regarded by the government as an act of aggression.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Armed police lay in ambush behind the hedge.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a sudden attack on someone by people who have been hiding and waiting for them, or the place where this happens: Armed police lay in ambush behind the hedge. (=attack a convoy)· Gunmen ambushed a convoy of trucks heading north.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB· Meanwhile four policemen were killed in an ambush in Soweto.· All three were trapped and killed in an ambush two miles from the kibbutz.· LoEsheLacy, a junior at McClymonds High School, was killed in the ambush.
· The old enemies, undefeated, have devised new strategies; new assailants lie in ambush.· Had he been on the Cardinal's business or lying in ambush for Irvine?
· We were taught about hand grenades and explosives, and how to set ambushes and lay mines in the most effective pattern.· It always bugged me, going on the same patrol, going on the same hill, setting up the same ambush.· Women's Organizations and Refugees 15 army trucks arrived and the soldiers set up an ambush to try and kill us all.· My platoon went deepest into the wooded area we were going into to set up an ambush patrol.
· They were calling off their comrades who waited in ambush further ahead.· For all he knew, Mrs Solomon might have been waiting in ambush.
The soldiers were killed in an ambush. In winter the danger of ambush is much reduced.lie/wait in ambush Armed police lay in ambush behind the hedge.► see thesaurus at attack—ambush verb [transitive]: Everybody thought our train would be ambushed, but we got out safely.