- defence
- [[t]dɪfe̱ns[/t]]
♦♦defences(The spelling defense is used in American English, and in meaning 8 is pronounced [[t]di͟ːfens[/t]].)1) N-UNCOUNT Defence is action that is taken to protect someone or something against attack.
The land was flat, giving no scope for defence...
By wielding a knife in defence you run the risk of having it used against you.
2) N-UNCOUNT: oft N n Defence is the organization of a country's armies and weapons, and their use to protect the country or its interests.Twenty eight percent of the federal budget is spent on defense.
...the French defence minister.
...a five per cent cut in defence spending.
3) N-PLURAL The defences of a country or region are all its armed forces and weapons.He emphasised the need to maintain Britain's defences at a level sufficient to deal with the unexpected.
4) N-COUNT: oft N against n A defence is something that people or animals can use or do to protect themselves.Despite anything the science of medicine may have achieved, the immune system is our main defence against disease...
The boy could have felt sorry for himself and become depressed, or he could have adopted hardened cynicism as a defense.
Syn:5) N-COUNT: oft N of n, also in N A defence is something that you say or write which supports ideas or actions that have been criticized or questioned.Chomsky's defence of his approach goes further...
The Party Congress has closed with a spirited defence of the government's economic programme from the Deputy Prime Minister...
`I've never used my Nigerian name, even before I was Chrystal Rose,' she said in defence.
Syn:Ant:6) N-COUNT: oft with poss In a court of law, an accused person's defence is the process of presenting evidence in their favour.He has insisted on conducting his own defence.
7) N-SING: usu the N The defence is the case that is presented by a lawyer in a trial for the person who has been accused of a crime. You can also refer to this person's lawyers as the defence.The defence was that the records of the interviews were fabricated by the police...
The defence pleaded insanity, but the defendant was found guilty and sentenced.
...defence lawyers.
8) N-SING-COLL: oft poss N, also in N In games such as soccer, football, or hockey, the defence is the group of players in a team who try to stop the opposing players scoring a goal or a point.Their defence, so strong last season, has now conceded 12 goals in six games...
I still prefer to play in defence.
Ant:9) PHRASE: PHR after v If you come to someone's defence, you help them by doing or saying something to protect them.He realized none of his schoolmates would come to his defense...
Tony sprang to the defence of the 21-year-old, saying he was not to blame.
English dictionary. 2008.
