de|fense

de|fense: de|fense «dih FEHNS», noun, verb, -fensed, -fens|ing.

–n.

1. any thing, act, or word that defends, guards, or protects; thing used to guard against attack or harm: »A wall around a city was a defense against enemies. A well-built house or a warm coat is a defense against cold weather.
SYNONYM(S): protection.

2. the act of defending or protecting; a guarding against attack or harm: »The armed forces are responsible for the defense of the country. Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute (Robert G. Harper).

3. an action, speech, or writing in favor of something: »The poet Shelley wrote a defense of poetry.
SYNONYM(S): support, justification.

4. a defending team or force, especially the players defending a goal in a game: »Our football team has a good defense.

5. a) the act or skill of defending oneself in boxing or fencing. b) the method of such defense.

6. a) a defendant and his lawyers. b) the answer of a defendant to an accusation or lawsuit against him. c) the methods adopted by the defendant's lawyers in conducting his case.

–v.t.

U.S. Football. to put up a defense against (an opposing team, player, or tactic): »A team is not “defended against” but “defensed” (Time).
Also, especially British, defence.

╂[< Old French defens < Latin dēfensa prohibition, defense < dēfendere; see etym. under defend (Cf. ↑defend)]

Usage When defense and offense are frequently used together, as in the description of football games, the first syllable is often stressed to emphasize the contrast. In a similar way, the adjectives defensive and offensive are often pronounced «DEE fehn sihv» and «OF ehn sihv».

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fense — de·fense·less; de·fense·man; of·fense; of·fense·less; de·fense; de·fense·less·ly; de·fense·less·ness; of·fense·less·ly; … English syllables
fense — autodéfense défense offense … Dictionnaire des rimes
fensé — offensé … Dictionnaire des rimes
de|fense´less|ness — de|fense|less «dih FEHNS lihs», adjective. having no defense; helpless against attack or harm; unprotected: »A baby is defenseless; he cannot prevent what is done to him. –de|fense´less|ly, adverb. –de|fense´less|ness, noun … Useful english dictionary
de|fense´less|ly — de|fense|less «dih FEHNS lihs», adjective. having no defense; helpless against attack or harm; unprotected: »A baby is defenseless; he cannot prevent what is done to him. –de|fense´less|ly, adverb. –de|fense´less|ness, noun … Useful english dictionary
de|fense|less — «dih FEHNS lihs», adjective. having no defense; helpless against attack or harm; unprotected: »A baby is defenseless; he cannot prevent what is done to him. –de|fense´less|ly, adverb. –de|fense´less|ness, noun … Useful english dictionary
of|fense´less|ly — of|fense|less «uh FEHNS lihs», adjective. 1. without offense; unable to attack. 2. not offending; inoffensive. –of|fense´less|ly, adverb … Useful english dictionary
of|fense|less — «uh FEHNS lihs», adjective. 1. without offense; unable to attack. 2. not offending; inoffensive. –of|fense´less|ly, adverb … Useful english dictionary
de|fense|man — «dih FEHNS muhn», noun, plural men. either one of two hockey players assigned to defend the area in front of a goal: »If a defenseman can t stop the puck, he falls on it (Maclean s) … Useful english dictionary
e|go-de|fense — «EE goh dih FEHNS, EHG oh », noun. Psychology. = defense mechanism. (Cf. ↑defense mechanism) … Useful english dictionary

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de|fense

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