DEFENSE

defense, defence

(noun) 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, defence

(noun) protection from harm; “sanitation is the best defense against disease”

defense, defence, defensive measure

(noun) (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, defence, denial, demurrer

(noun) a defendant’s answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him; “he gave evidence for the defense”

defense, defence, vindication

(noun) the justification for some act or belief; “he offered a persuasive defense of the theory”

refutation, defense, defence

(noun) 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”

defense, defence, defense force, defence force

(noun) an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack; “he joined the defense against invasion”

defense, defence, defense team, defense lawyers

(noun) the defendant and his legal advisors collectively; “the defense called for a mistrial”

defense, defence, defending team

(noun) (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring; “his teams are always good on defense”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

---

Etymology

Noun

defense (countable and uncountable, plural defenses) (American spelling)

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

Anything employed to oppose attack(s).

(team sports) A strategy and tactics employed to prevent the other team from scoring; contrasted with offense.

(team sports) The portion of a team dedicated to preventing the other team from scoring; contrasted with offense.

An argument in support or justification of something.

(law, by extension) The case presented by the defendant in a legal proceeding.

(law, by extension) The lawyer or team thereof who presents such a case.

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

(obsolete) A prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance.

Synonyms

• See also defense

Antonyms

• offense

Source: Wiktionary

---

De*fense", De*fence", n. Etym: [F. défense, OF. defense, fem., defens, masc., fr. L. defensa (cf. Fence.]

1. The act of defending, or the state of being defended; protection, as from violence or danger. In cases of defense 't is best to weigh The enemy more mighty than he seems. Shak.

2. That which defends or protects; anything employed to oppose attack, ward off violence or danger, or maintain security; a guard; a protection. War would arise in defense of the right. Tennyson. God, the widow's champion and defense. Shak.

3. Protecting plea; vindication; justification. Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense. Acts xxii. 1.

4. (Law)

Definition: The defendant's answer or plea; an opposing or denial of the truth or validity of the plaintiff's or prosecutor's case; the method of proceeding adopted by the defendant to protect himself against the plaintiff's action.

5. Act or skill in making defense; defensive plan or policy; practice in self defense, as in fencing, boxing, etc. A man of great defense. Spenser. By how much defense is better than no skill. Shak.

6. Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance. [Obs.] Severe defenses . . . against wearing any linen under a certain breadth. Sir W. Temple.

De*fense", v. t.

Definition: To furnish with defenses; to fortify. [Obs.] [Written also defence.] Better manned and more strongly defensed. Hales.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

---

Do you know this game?

Wordscapes is a popular word game consistently in the top charts of both Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The Android version has more than 10 million installs. This guide will help you get more coins in less than two minutes of playing the game. Continue reading Wordscapes: Get More Coins