Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun etc. See defense, etc.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • See defense.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The action of protecting from attack.
  • noun Something used to oppose attack.
  • noun An argument in support or justification of something.
  • verb obsolete, transitive To furnish with defences; to fortify.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack
  • noun (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring
  • noun protection from harm
  • noun a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him
  • noun (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies
  • noun the act of defending someone or something against attack or injury
  • noun (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
  • noun a structure used to defend against attack
  • noun the defendant and his legal advisors collectively
  • noun the justification for some act or belief
  • noun the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Opposition parties on Monday urged Defence Minister Joe Modise to furnish Parliament with the full reasons for defence secretary

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1998

  • Defence Minister Joe Modise was not yet in control of the affairs of the Department of Defence, defence secretary Pierre

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1997

  • Defence Minister Ronnie Kasrils together with the secretary of defence and the defence force chief would ensure that corporate decisions and guidelines were implemented.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1996

  • But if he repels the violence in a moderate way, it will be a lawful defence: for according to the Civil and Canon Laws it is allowable _to repel force by force with the moderation of a blameless defence_.

    Moral Philosophy Joseph Rickaby 1888

  • Defence Secretary Robert ... defence secretary Robert Gates began meetings aimed at persuading the country defence secretary Robert Gates that it can't launch any new offensives against militants for six months to a

    WN.com - Articles related to More about the sugar than politics in Lahore 2010

  • Bob Ainsworth: The New Defence SecretaryWhen you think things couldn't get worse this joker gets the defence secretary job.

    "ROGUE GUNNER" 2009

  • A sequence that led to only 10 points being taken from 11 matches before the turn of the year, a period in which Frank Lampard, John Terry, Michael Essien and Alex were absent and Didier Drogba played despite suffering from malaria, wrecked their title defence and effectively reduced them to a pursuit of second place.

    Carlo Ancelotti admits Chelsea squad was not good enough this season 2011

  • Their title defence hogs the focus, the sporting director, Frank Arnesen, is serving his notice period and the manager's own future will be determined only when the league campaign has concluded.

    The real Didier Drogba is back, mean and motivated for Chelsea 2011

  • Ashley Young could have been forgiven a certain giddiness, his signature still wet on a five-year contract at Manchester United with a title defence and Champions League football to come.

    Ashley Young confident of imposing himself on Old Trafford youth camp 2011

  • Justin Rose, who won last year's Memorial tournament by two shots, launched his title defence with an opening 71.

    Birdie burst earns Rory McIlroy share of lead at Memorial tournament 2011

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