Defence
WordNet
noun
(1) Protection from harm
"Sanitation is the best defense against disease"
(2) Military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies
"They died in the defense of Stalingrad"
"They were developed for the defense program"
(3) A defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him
"He gave evidence for the defense"
(4) A structure used to defend against attack
"The artillery battered down the defenses"
(5) The justification for some act or belief
"He offered a persuasive defense of the theory"
(6) The speech act of answering an attack on your assertions
"His refutation of the charges was short and persuasive"
"In defense he said the other man started it"
(7) An organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack
"He joined the defense against invasion"
(8) The defendant and his legal advisors collectively
"The defense called for a mistrial"
(9) (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring
"His teams are always good on defense"
(10) (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
WiktionaryText
Noun
- The action of protecting from attack.
- Something used to oppose attack.
- 1592—1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet XII:
- And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defence
- Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.
- 1592—1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet XII:
- An argument in support or justification of something.
- 1592—1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet LXXXIX:
- Speak of my lameness, and I straight will halt,
- Against thy reasons making no defence.
- 1592—1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet LXXXIX: