1. To make or keep safe from danger, attack, or harm.
2. Sports
a. To attempt to prevent the opposition from scoring while playing in or near (a goal or area of a field, for example).
b. To be responsible for guarding (an opposing player).
c. To compete against a challenger in an attempt to retain (a championship).
3. To support or maintain, as by argument or action; justify.
4. Law
a. To represent (a defendant) in a civil or criminal action.
b. To attempt to disprove or invalidate (an action or claim).
v.intr.
1. To make a defense.
2. Sports To play defense.
[Middle English defenden, from Old French defendre, from Latin dfendere, to ward off; see gwhen- in Indo-European roots.]
de·fenda·ble adj.
de·fender n.
Synonyms: defend, protect, guard, preserve, shield, safeguard These verbs mean to make or keep safe from danger, attack, or harm. Defend implies repelling an attack: defending her territory; defended his reputation. Protect often suggests providing a barrier to discomfort, injury, or attack: bought a dog to protect the children; wore sunglasses to protect her eyes. Guard suggests keeping watch: guarded the house against intruders. To preserve is to take measures to maintain something in safety: ecologists working to preserve our natural resources. Shield suggests protecting with a piece of defensive armor: hid the newspaper to shield me from the bad news. Safeguard stresses protection against potential danger: The Bill of Rights safeguards our individual liberties.
defend /dfnd/ v. [T] 1 to protect against attack: The army defended the city.2 (in law) to protect the rights of s.o. accused of a crime: Youll need a lawyer to defend you in court.3 to explain, argue in support of: to defend ones views (opinion, position, etc.)
Thesaurus: defend 1 to keep safe, guard, secure 2 to stand up for s.o. or s.t. 3 to justify. Ant. to attack.
f
nd/ v. [T] 1 to protect against attack: The army defended the city. 2 (in law) to protect the rights of s.o. accused of a crime: Youll need a lawyer to defend you in court. 3 to explain, argue in support of: to defend ones views (opinion, position, etc.)
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nd
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fendere, to ward off; see gwhen- in Indo-European roots.]