defense

de|fense [ dı`fens ] noun ***

▸ 1 someone/something that protects

▸ 2 proof someone/something is right

▸ 3 protection from illness

▸ 4 in sports

▸ 5 attempt to win again

▸ 6 behavior that protects

1. ) uncount actions that you take to protect someone or something that is being attacked:

come/rush to someone's defense: Two of his friends came to his defense.

a ) uncount the system of weapons, equipment, and people used for protecting a country:

Huge amounts of government money are spent on defense.

an attempt to reduce the defense budget

The president has promised to increase defense spending.

b ) count usually plural the particular structures, weapons, and people that are used to protect a place:

The city walls were built as a defense against invaders.

He stressed the need to strengthen the nation's defenses.

2. ) count or uncount something that you say to support someone or something that is being criticized:

defense of: The President responded with a strong defense of his foreign policy.

in defense of: Monroe has been fierce in defense of the present system.

speak/say something in someone's defense: Several people spoke in my defense.

come/spring/rush to someone's defense: Martin immediately sprang to her defense, saying she was innocent.

a ) singular all the things that are said and shown in a court case to prove that someone is not guilty:

I think we have quite a strong defense.

mount a defense: He mounted a surprisingly effective defense.

b ) the defense the people in a court case who try to prove that someone is not guilty:

The defense will begin giving evidence tomorrow.

3. ) count often plural something that happens in your body to prevent you from becoming sick:

new drugs that work by strengthening the body's own defenses

4. ) / `di,fens / uncount the players in a team game who try to prevent the other team from scoring points

5. ) singular an attempt by someone to win a competition that they won last time so they keep their position as winner:

Simpson is in New York this week for the defense of his title.

6. ) count a way of thinking or behaving that protects you from being tricked or hurt:

someone's defenses are down: He got me to sign the contract when my defenses were down.

=> SELF-DEFENSE