defense

defense
defenseless, adj.defenselessly, adv.defenselessness, n.
/di fens"/ or, esp. for 7, 9, /dee"fens/, n., v., defensed, defensing.
n.
1. resistance against attack; protection: Two more regiments are needed for the defense of the city.
2. something that defends, as a fortification, physical or mental quality, or medication: This fort was once the main defense of the island.
3. the defending of a cause or the like by speech, argument, etc.: He spoke in defense of the nation's foreign policy.
4. a speech, argument, etc., in vindication: She delivered a defense of free enterprise.
5. Law.
a. the denial or pleading of the defendant in answer to the claim or charge that has been made.
b. the proceedings adopted by a defendant, or the defendant's legal agents, for defending against the charges that have been made.
c. a defendant and his or her counsel.
6. Psychol. See defense mechanism (def. 2).
7. Sports.
a. the practice or art of defending oneself or one's goal against attack, as in fencing, boxing, soccer, or football.
b. the team attempting to thwart the attack of the team having the ball or puck.
c. the players of a team who line up in their own defensive zone.
d. the positions on the field, ice, etc., taken by such players.
8. (cap.) Also called Defense Department. Informal. the Department of Defense.
v.t.
9. Sports. to defend against (an opponent, play, or tactic).
Also, esp. Brit., defence.
[1250-1300; ME < OF < LL defensa a forbidding, n. use of fem. of ptp. of L defendere to DEFEND; r. ME defens < AF, OF < ML defensum (thing) forbidden, neut. ptp. of L defendere]
Syn. 1. security, preservation, safeguard. 3. support, advocacy, justification.

* * *

(as used in expressions)
Black Panther Party for Self Defense
Missile Defense Alarm System Midas
self defense
Self Defense Force

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • defense — de·fense /di fens, dē ˌfens/ n 1: the act or action of defending see also self defense 2 a: the theory or ground that forms the basis for a defendant s opposition to an allegation in a complaint or to a charge in a charging instrument (as an… …   Law dictionary

  • Defense — Défense Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Defense — or defence (see ce/ se) may refer to: Tactics and strategy of defending against attack Defense (military) Defense (sports) Defender (association football) Defenceman (ice hockey) Biological defense (disambiguation) a Chess opening as created in… …   Wikipedia

  • defense — de ne faire quelque chose, Vetatio. Defense, ou menace, Interdictum. Defense qu on fait pour soy, Causae dictio. Defense contre les ennemis, Propugnatio, Tutamentum, Munimentum, Presidium, Defensio. Defense de soy, Tuitio sui. Defense contre… …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • defense — DEFENSE. sub. f. Protection, soutien, appui qu on donne à quelqu un contre ses ennemis, à quelque chose contre ceux qui l attaquent. Prendre les armes pour la défense de son Pays, de la Religion. S armer pour la commune défense, pour sa propre… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • Defense — De*fense , Defence De*fence , n. [F. d[ e]fense, OF. defense, fem., defens, masc., fr. L. defensa (cf. LL. defensum), from defendere. See {Defend}, and cf. {Fence}.] 1. The act of defending, or the state of being defended; protection, as from… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • defense — Defense. s. f. Soustien, protection, appuy. Prendre les armes pour la defense de son pays, de la Religion. s armer pour la commune defense. la defense de sa cause. prendre la defense de l innocent. se mettre en defense, pour dire, Se mettre en… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • defense — c.1300, forbidding, prohibition, also action of guarding or protecting, from O.Fr. defense, from L. defensus, pp. of defendere ward off, protect (see DEFEND (Cf. defend)). But it also arrived (without the final e) from O.Fr. defens, from L.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • defense — [dē fens′, difens′; ] also, and for n.6 usually, [dē′fens΄] n. [ME < OFr < LL defensa < fem. of L defensus, pp. of defendere] 1. the act or power of defending, or guarding against attack, harm, or danger 2. the fact or state of being… …   English World dictionary

  • defense — FINANCE LAW the American spelling of defence * * * defense UK US /dɪˈfens/ noun US spelling of ► DEFENCE(Cf. ↑defence) …   Financial and business terms

  • Défense N.B.C. — ● Défense N.B.C. défense contre les effets des armes nucléaires, biologiques et chimiques, appelées autrefois armes spéciales …   Encyclopédie Universelle

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