defense
nounverbverbcommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//dɪˈfɛns//
- United States//ˈdiːˌfɛns//
The action of defending or protecting from attack, danger, or injury.
noun
- 1
The action of defending or protecting from attack, danger, or injury.
- 2
Anything employed to oppose attack(s). A strategy and tactics employed to prevent the other team from scoring; contrasted with offense.
- 3
Anything employed to oppose attack(s). The portion of a team dedicated to preventing the other team from scoring; contrasted with offense.
- 4
An argument in support or justification of something.
to come to someone's defense
- 5
An argument in support or justification of something. The case presented by the defendant in a legal proceeding.
- 6
An argument in support or justification of something. The lawyer or team thereof who presents such a case.
- 7
Government policy or (infra)structure related to the military.
Department of Defense
- 8
obsoleteA prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance.
Etymology
From Middle English defens, defense, from Old French defens, defense, from Late Latin dēfēnsa (“protection”). Displaced native Old English bewering. The verb is from the noun.
verb
- 1
To employ defensive tactics (so as to block).
In fact, there is an increase in the effectiveness of the Five Cutter Offense when teams put pressure on, instead of sagging or switching in an attempt to defense the attack successfully.
But the Buffs’ coaching staff made some adjustments in the way they defensed the Heights’ vaunted veer-option offense, and after being bullied around for 271 yards in the first half, yielded only 140 in the second half.
“It was most important to start the second half right,” Tennessee coach Donnie Tyndall said. “They dug in and defensed the right way.”
verb
- 1
archaicTo furnish with defenses; to defend, protect.
In the ſyege of greate cities, takyng a bygge compaſſe rounde abowte, we muſt wyth all laboure: make and intercut not farre of the citie, bꝛode and depe trenches defenſed wyth turrettes of woodde, […]
VVhere being plaſt, vnvviſt of any vvight, / He ſtayde his time, till husband fel on ſleepe, / Then out he gate, defenſt vvith darke of night, / And ſoftly to Salueſtras bed did creepe: […]
The Country of Britain was in old times adorned with 28 Cities, beſide innumerable number of Caſtles defenſed with ſtrong Walls, Towers, Gates and Locks.
Etymology
From Middle English defencen, defensen, from Old French defenser or its etymon, Latin dēfēnsō.
Forms
- plural
- defenses
- past tense
- defensed
- past participle
- defensed
- present participle
- defensing
- third person singular
- defenses
defense · The action of defending or protecting from attack, danger, or injury.
defenseless · Lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack.defensive · Intended for defence; protective.defiance · The feeling, or spirit of being defiant.