defence

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de·fence

(dĭ-fĕns′)

n. & v. Chiefly British

Variant of defense.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

defence

(dɪˈfɛns) or

defense

1. resistance against danger, attack, or harm; protection

2. a person or thing that provides such resistance

3. a plea, essay, speech, etc, in support of something; vindication; justification

4. (Military)

a. a country's military measures or resources

b. (as modifier): defence spending.

5. (Law) law a defendant's denial of the truth of the allegations or charge against him or her

6. (Law) law the defendant and his or her legal advisers collectively. Compare prosecution

7. (General Sporting Terms) sport

a. the action of protecting oneself, one's goal, or one's allotted part of the playing area against an opponent's attacks

b. the method of doing this

c. the defence the players in a team whose function is to do this

8. (American Football) American football (usually preceded by the)

a. the team that does not have possession of the ball

b. the members of a team that play in such circumstances

9. (Psychoanalysis) psychoanal See defence mechanism

10. (Fortifications) (plural) fortifications

[C13: from Old French, from Late Latin dēfensum, past participle of dēfendere to defend]

deˈfenceless, deˈfenseless adj

deˈfencelessly, deˈfenselessly adv

deˈfencelessness, deˈfenselessness n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

de•fense

(dɪˈfɛns or, esp. for 7,9, ˈdi fɛns)

n., v. -fensed, -fens•ing. n.

1. resistance against attack; protection.

2. something that defends, as a fortification or medication.

3. the defending of a cause or the like by speech, etc.: to speak in defense of a cause.

4. the arms production of a nation: spending billions on defense.

5. a speech, etc., in vindication.

a. the defendant's answer to the charge or claim made by the plaintiff.

b. the strategy adopted by a defendant for defending against the plaintiff's charge.

c. a defendant together with counsel.

7. defense mechanism.

a. the tactics of defending oneself or one's goal against attack.

b. the team attempting to thwart the attack of the team having the ball or puck.

c. the players of such a team or their positions.

v.t.

9. to defend against (an opponent, play, etc.).

[1250–1300; Middle English < Old French < Late Latin dēfēnsa a forbidding, derivative of Latin dēfendere to defend]

de•fense′less, adj.

de•fense′less•ness, n.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	defence - (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires defence mechanism, defence reaction, defense mechanism, defense reaction, defense unconscious process, process - a mental process that you are not directly aware of; "the process of denial" psychiatry, psychological medicine, psychopathology - the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders compensation - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that conceals your undesirable shortcomings by exaggerating desirable behaviors conversion - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism represses emotional conflicts which are then converted into physical symptoms that have no organic basis denial - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that denies painful thoughts displacement - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that transfers affect or reaction from the original object to some more acceptable one idealisation, idealization - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that splits something you are ambivalent about into two representations--one good and one bad intellectualisation, intellectualization - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that uses reasoning to block out emotional stress and conflict isolation - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which memory of an unacceptable act or impulse is separated from the emotion originally associated with it projection - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism by which your own traits and emotions are attributed to someone else psychoanalytic process - a process that is assumed to occur in psychoanalytic theory rationalisation, rationalization - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism by which your true motivation is concealed by explaining your actions and feelings in a way that is not threatening reaction formation - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which a person unconsciously develops attitudes and behavior that are the opposite of unacceptable repressed desires and impulses and serve to conceal them; "his strict morality is just a reaction formation to hide his sexual drive" regression - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which you flee from reality by assuming a more infantile state repression - (psychiatry) the classical defense mechanism that protects you from impulses or ideas that would cause anxiety by preventing them from becoming conscious
	2.	defence - (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring; "his teams are always good on defense" defending team, defense athletics, sport - an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition team, squad - a cooperative unit (especially in sports) offence, offense - the team that has the ball (or puck) and is trying to score
	3.	defence - the defendant and his legal advisors collectively; "the defense called for a mistrial" defense lawyers, defense team, defense aggregation, collection, accumulation, assemblage - several things grouped together or considered as a whole
	4.	defence - an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack; "he joined the defense against invasion" defence force, defense force, defense organization, organisation - a group of people who work together bastion - a group that defends a principle; "a bastion against corruption"; "the last bastion of communism"
	5.	defence - 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" refutation, defense answer - the speech act of replying to a question confutation - the speech act of refuting conclusively rebuttal - the speech act of refuting by offering a contrary contention or argument
	6.	defence - the justification for some act or belief; "he offered a persuasive defense of the theory" vindication, defense justification - a statement in explanation of some action or belief apologia, apology - a formal written defense of something you believe in strongly alibi - (law) a defense by an accused person purporting to show that he or she could not have committed the crime in question exculpation, excuse, self-justification, alibi - a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.; "he kept finding excuses to stay"; "every day he had a new alibi for not getting a job"; "his transparent self-justification was unacceptable"
	7.	defence - a structure used to defend against attack; "the artillery battered down the defenses" defensive structure, defense cheval-de-frise, chevaux-de-frise - defensive structure consisting of a movable obstacle composed of barbed wire or spikes attached to a wooden frame; used to obstruct cavalry fortification, munition - defensive structure consisting of walls or mounds built around a stronghold to strengthen it fortress, fort - a fortified defensive structure line of defence, line of defense - defensive structure consisting of a barrier that can be employed for defense against attack outwork - subsidiary defensive structure lying outside the main fortified area; "the outworks of the castle" stronghold, fastness - a strongly fortified defensive structure structure, construction - a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts; "the structure consisted of a series of arches"; "she wore her hair in an amazing construction of whirls and ribbons"
	8.	defence - a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him; "he gave evidence for the defense" demurrer, denial, defense due process, due process of law - (law) the administration of justice according to established rules and principles; based on the principle that a person cannot be deprived of life or liberty or property without appropriate legal procedures and safeguards trial - (law) the determination of a person's innocence or guilt by due process of law; "he had a fair trial and the jury found him guilty"; "most of these complaints are settled before they go to trial" entrapment - a defense that claims the defendant would not have broken the law if not tricked into doing it by law enforcement officials law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"
	9.	defence - (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies; "they died in the defense of Stalingrad"; "they were developed for the defense program" defense, defensive measure umbrella - a formation of military planes maintained over ground operations or targets; "an air umbrella over England" military action, action - a military engagement; "he saw action in Korea" air defense - defensive measures designed to destroy attacking enemy aircraft or missiles or to nullify their effectiveness stand - a defensive effort; "the army made a final stand at the Rhone" hasty defence, hasty defense - a defense organized while in contact with the enemy or when time is limited deliberate defence, deliberate defense - a defense organized before contact is made with the enemy and while time for organization is available; usually includes a fortified zone (with pillboxes) and communication systems biodefence, biodefense, biological defence, biological defense - procedures involved in taking defensive measures against attacks using biological agents chemical defence, chemical defense - procedures involved in taking defensive measures against attacks using chemical agents minelaying, mining - laying explosive mines in concealed places to destroy enemy personnel and equipment biological warfare defence, biological warfare defense, BW defence, BW defense - defense against biological warfare armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker"
	10.	defence - protection from harm; "sanitation is the best defense against disease" defense protection - the activity of protecting someone or something; "the witnesses demanded police protection"
	11.	defence - the act of defending someone or something against attack or injury; "a good boxer needs a good defense"; "defense against hurricanes is an urgent problem" defense protection - the activity of protecting someone or something; "the witnesses demanded police protection"

defence

U.S. defense

noun

1. protection, cover, security, guard, shelter, refuge, resistance, safeguard, immunity The land was flat, giving no scope for defence.

2. armaments, weapons, deterrents, the military, the army, the navy, the air force Twenty-eight per cent of the federal budget is spent on defense.

3. argument, explanation, excuse, plea, apology, justification, vindication, rationalization, apologia, exoneration, exculpation, extenuation a spirited defence of the government's economic progress

4. plea (Law) case, claim, pleading, declaration, testimony, denial, alibi, vindication, rebuttal His defence was that records were fabricated by the police.

plural noun

1. shield, barricade, fortification, bastion, buttress, rampart, bulwark, fastness Soldiers are beginning to strengthen the city's defences.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

دِفاعدِفَاعوِقايَه

obranaochranaobhajoba

forsvarværn

puolustus

obrana

vörn

difesa la difesa sulla difensiva difensivo

防御

수비

apsigynimasbeginklisbejėgisgynybapasiteisinimas

aizsardzībaaizstāvēšanaaizstāvība

obrana

obramba

försvar

การป้องกัน

savunmasavunma yöntemikorunma aracımüdafaa

sự phòng thủ

辩护防卫防卫方法防守防御物

defence

defense (US) [dɪˈfens]

A. N (all senses) → defensa f
as a defence against → como defensa contra
the body's defences against disease → las defensas del organismo contra la enfermedad
the case for the defence → el argumento de la defensa
counsel for the defence → abogado/a m/f defensor(a)
Department of Defense (US) = Ministry of Defence
in his defence → en su defensa
what have you to say in your own defence? → ¿qué tiene usted que decir or alegar en defensa propia?
in defence of sth → en defensa de algo
to come out in defence of → salir en defensa de
Minister of Defence (Brit) → Ministro m de Defensa
Ministry of Defence (Brit) → Ministerio m de Defensa
Secretary (of State) for Defence (Brit)
Secretary of Defense (US) → Ministro m de Defensa
witness for the defence → testigo mf de cargo, testigo mf de la defensa

B. CPD [policy, strategy, costs] → de defensa
defence counsel N → abogado/a m/f defensor(a)
defence forces NPL → fuerzas fpl defensivas
defence mechanism N → mecanismo m de defensa
defence spending N → gastos mpl de defensa

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

defence

[dɪˈfɛns] (British) defense [ˈdiːfɛns] (US)

(= protection) [people] → défense f
defence against sth [+ disease, recession, attack] → défense contre qch
to come to sb's defence → prendre la défense de qn
to spring to the defence of sb → prendre la défense de qn
in defence of → en défense de

[country] → défense f Ministry of Defence, Department of Defense

(LAW) (in court) (= case) → défense f
to conduct one's own defence → assurer sa propre défense
witness for the defence → témoin m à décharge

(LAW) (= defending lawyers) the defence → la défense

(= justification) → justification f
in defence of sth [speak, write] → en défense de qch
in defence of sb → à la défense de qn

(SPORT) → défense f

modif

[force, system] → de défense
defence budget → budget m de la défense
defence spending → dépenses fpl militaires defence secretary

(LAW) [counsel, lawyer, attorney] → de la défense
defence witness → témoin m de la défense defences

npl

[country] → défenses fpl

[body] → défenses fpl

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

defence

, (US) defense

no pl → Verteidigung f no pl; in his defence → zu seiner Verteidigung; to come to somebody’s defence → jdn verteidigen; to put up or make a spirited defence of somebody/something → jdn/etw mutig verteidigen; his only defence was … → seine einzige Rechtfertigung war …

(= form of protection) → Abwehr- or Schutzmaßnahme f; (Mil: = fortification etc) → Befestigung f, → Verteidigungsanlage f; as a defence against → als Schutz gegen; his defences were down → er war wehrlos; she caught me when my defences were down → sie erwischte mich in einem schwachen Augenblick (inf)

(Jur, Sport) → Verteidigung f; to play in defence → in der Verteidigung spielen

defence

, (US) defense:

defence counsel

n → Verteidiger(in) m(f)

defence expenditure

n → Verteidigungsausgaben pl

defenceless, (US) defenseless

adj → schutzlos

defenceman

n pl <-men> (Ice hockey) → Verteidiger m

defence mechanism

n (Physiol, Psych) → Abwehrmechanismus m

defence minister

n → Verteidigungsminister(in) m(f)

defence system

n (Biol) → Abwehrsystem nt

defence witness

n → Zeuge m → /Zeugin f → der Verteidigung, Entlastungszeuge(in) m(f)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

defence

defense (Am) [dɪˈfɛns]

1. n → difesa
in defence of → in difesa di
in his defence → in sua difesa
the Ministry of Defence (Brit) the Department of Defense (Am) → il Ministero della Difesa
the case for the defence → la difesa
witness for the defence → teste m/f a difesa
the body's defences against disease → le difese naturali dell'organismo contro la malattia
as a defence against → per ripararsi da, come difesa contro

2. adj (policy, strategy) → di difesa
defence spending spese per la difesa

defence

(diˈfens) (American) defense noun

1. the act or action of defending against attack. the defence of Rome; He spoke in defence of the plans.

2. the method or equipment used to guard or protect. The walls will act as a defence against flooding.

3. a person's answer to an accusation especially in a law-court. What is your defence?

deˈfenceless adjective

helpless or without protection.

the defence

the case on behalf of a person who is accused in a law court. the counsel for the defence.

defence

→ دِفَاع obrana forsvar Verteidigung άμυνα defensa puolustus défense obrana difesa 防御 수비 verdediging forsvar obrona defesa защита försvar การป้องกัน savunma sự phòng thủ 防守

References in classic literature ?

In what relation the Apology of Plato stands to the real defence of Socrates, there are no means of determining.

And we may perhaps even indulge in the fancy that the actual defence of Socrates was as much greater than the Platonic defence as the master was greater than the disciple.

View in context

Further, the enemy would naturally on his arrival at once burn and ruin the country at the time when the spirits of the people are still hot and ready for the defence; and, therefore, so much the less ought the prince to hesitate; because after a time, when spirits have cooled, the damage is already done, the ills are incurred, and there is no longer any remedy; and therefore they are so much the more ready to unite with their prince, he appearing to be under obligations to them now that their houses have been burnt and their possessions ruined in his defence.

View in context

The heavy, yet hasty step of the men-at-arms, traversed the battlements or resounded on the narrow and winding passages and stairs which led to the various bartisans and points of defence. The voices of the knights were heard, animating their followers, or directing means of defence, while their commands were often drowned in the clashing of armour, or the clamorous shouts of those whom they addressed.

Rebecca could observe, from the number of men placed for the defence of this post, that the besieged entertained apprehensions for its safety; and from the mustering of the assailants in a direction nearly opposite to the outwork, it seemed no less plain that it had been selected as a vulnerable point of attack.

View in context

And now since we have reverted to the subject of poetry, let this our defence serve to show the reasonableness of our former judgment in sending away out of our State an art having the tendencies which we have described; for reason constrained us.

Shall I propose, then, that she be allowed to return from exile, but upon this condition only--that she make a defence of herself in lyrical or some other metre?

View in context

'At the defence of the Salwanners,' repeated Mr Willet, softly; again looking round the table.

'It was took off in the defence of the Salwanners in America where the war is.' Continuing to repeat these words to himself in a low tone of voice

View in context

He fell down on the floor of the House of Lords after uttering almost his dying words in defence of our privileges as freemen.

"There were many men of talent who said what they could in defence of the king's tyrannical proceedings," replied Grandfather.

View in context

Ingrained in Michael's heredity, from the very beginning of four- legged dogs on earth, was the DEFENCE OF THE MEAT.