defense

1. 1

   The action of defending or protecting from attack, danger, or injury.UScountableuncountable

2. 2

   Anything employed to oppose attack(s).; A strategy and tactics employed to prevent the other team from scoring; contrasted with offense.UScountableuncountable

3. 3

   Anything employed to oppose attack(s).; The portion of a team dedicated to preventing the other team from scoring; contrasted with offense.UScountableuncountable

4. 4

   An argument in support or justification of something.UScountableuncountable

   • to come to someone's defense
5. 5

   An argument in support or justification of something.; The case presented by the defendant in a legal proceeding.USbroadlycountable

6. 6

   An argument in support or justification of something.; The lawyer or team thereof who presents such a case.USbroadlycountable

7. 7

   Government policy or (infra)structure related to the military.UScountableeuphemistic

   • Department of Defense
8. 8

   A prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance.UScountableobsolete

syn. defence · defense · fortification · guard · preservation · protection · safeguard · shield · ward

ant. offense · prosecution · attack

1. 1

   To employ defensive tactics (so as to block).US

   • 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.

1. 1

   To furnish with defenses; to defend, protect.USarchaic

   • 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: […]