defensive

defensive
de|fen|sive1 [ dı`fensıv ] adjective **
1. ) showing that you are angry or offended when you think someone is criticizing you:
He got really defensive when I asked why he had left.
2. ) intended or used for protecting a place during an attack:
defensive weapons
3. ) intended to stop the other team from scoring points in a game:
a strong defensive effort
4. ) a defensive player tries to stop the other team from scoring points
╾ de|fen|sive|ly adverb
defensive
de|fen|sive 2 [ dı`fensıv ] noun
on the defensive
trying to defend something from attacks or criticism:
put someone on the defensive: a controversy that has put the school's leadership on the defensive

Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • défensive — ● défensive nom féminin Ensemble de mesures permettant d éviter ou de réduire l effet d une agression. Attitude adoptée par le commandement et qui, se limitant à parer les entreprises de l adversaire, lui abandonne provisoirement l initiative des …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • defensive — Ⅰ. defensive UK US /dɪˈfensɪv/ adjective ► FINANCE, STOCK MARKET an investment that is defensive is very safe, with little or no risk, and its value does not change very much over a period of time: »a defensive share/stock ► trying to protect… …   Financial and business terms

  • Defensive — De*fen sive, a. [Cf. F. d[ e]fensif.] 1. Serving to defend or protect; proper for defense; opposed to offensive; as, defensive armor. [1913 Webster] A moat defensive to a house. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. Carried on by resisting attack or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • defensive — de·fen·sive adj 1: serving to defend or as part of a defense a defensive pleading 2: devoted to resisting or preventing aggressive actions a defensive recapitalization...to escape a takeover attempt Barbara Franklin de·fen·sive·ly adv …   Law dictionary

  • Defensive — De*fen sive, n. That which defends; a safeguard. [1913 Webster] Wars preventive, upon just fears, are true defensives. Bacon. [1913 Webster] {To be on the defensive}, {To stand on the defensive}, to be or stand in a state or posture of defense or …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • defensive — ► ADJECTIVE 1) used or intended to defend or protect. 2) very anxious to challenge or avoid criticism. ● on the defensive Cf. ↑on the defensive DERIVATIVES defensively adverb defensiveness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • defensive — [dē fen′siv, difen′siv] adj. [ME & OFr defensif < ML defensivus < L defensus: see DEFENSE] 1. defending 2. of or for defense 3. designating or of the side that defends a goal, basket, etc. in a contest 4. Psychol. constantly feeling under… …   English World dictionary

  • Defensive — (v. lat.), die Vertheidigung gegen einen Feind, sofern sie der Offensive, dem Angriff, entgegengesetzt ist …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Defensive — (lat.), die Form kriegerischer Tätigkeit, bei der es, im Gegensatz zur Offensive (s.d.), auf Verteidigung, nicht auf Angriff abgesehen ist. Die D. hat durch die Verbesserung der Waffen außerordentlich an Kraft gewonnen, dennoch wird man aus ihr… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • defensive — c.1400 (adj. and noun), from Fr. défensif (14c.), from M.L. defensivus, from defens , pp. stem of L. defendere (see DEFEND (Cf. defend)). Of persons, alert to reject criticism, from 1919. Related: Defensively; defensiveness …   Etymology dictionary

  • defensive — [adj] protective, watchful arresting, averting, balking, checking, conservative, coping with, defending, foiling, forestalling, frustrating, guarding, in opposition, interrupting, opposing, preservative, preventive, protecting, resistive,… …   New thesaurus

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