defence
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Related to defence: defence mechanism
de·fence
(dĭ-fĕns′)n. & v. Chiefly British
Variant of defense.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
defence
(dɪˈfɛns) ordefense
n
1. resistance against danger, attack, or harm; protection
2. a person or thing that provides such resistance
3. a plea, essay, speech, etc, in support of something; vindication; justification
4. (Military)
a. a country's military measures or resources
b. (as modifier): defence spending.
5. (Law) law a defendant's denial of the truth of the allegations or charge against him or her
6. (Law) law the defendant and his or her legal advisers collectively. Compare prosecution
7. (General Sporting Terms) sport
a. the action of protecting oneself, one's goal, or one's allotted part of the playing area against an opponent's attacks
b. the method of doing this
c. the defence the players in a team whose function is to do this
8. (American Football) American football (usually preceded by the)
a. the team that does not have possession of the ball
b. the members of a team that play in such circumstances
9. (Psychoanalysis) psychoanal See defence mechanism
10. (Fortifications) (plural) fortifications
[C13: from Old French, from Late Latin dēfensum, past participle of dēfendere to defend]
deˈfenceless, deˈfenseless adj
deˈfencelessly, deˈfenselessly adv
deˈfencelessness, deˈfenselessness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
de•fense
(dɪˈfɛns or, esp. for 7,9, ˈdi fɛns)n., v. -fensed, -fens•ing. n.
1. resistance against attack; protection.
2. something that defends, as a fortification or medication.
3. the defending of a cause or the like by speech, etc.: to speak in defense of a cause.
4. the arms production of a nation: spending billions on defense.
5. a speech, etc., in vindication.
6.
a. the defendant's answer to the charge or claim made by the plaintiff.
b. the strategy adopted by a defendant for defending against the plaintiff's charge.
c. a defendant together with counsel.
8.
v.t. a. the tactics of defending oneself or one's goal against attack.
b. the team attempting to thwart the attack of the team having the ball or puck.
c. the players of such a team or their positions.
9. to defend against (an opponent, play, etc.).
[1250–1300; Middle English < Old French < Late Latin dēfēnsa a forbidding, derivative of Latin dēfendere to defend]
de•fense′less, adj.
de•fense′less•ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Noun | 1. | defence - (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires unconscious process, process - a mental process that you are not directly aware of; "the process of denial" psychiatry, psychological medicine, psychopathology - the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders compensation - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that conceals your undesirable shortcomings by exaggerating desirable behaviors conversion - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism represses emotional conflicts which are then converted into physical symptoms that have no organic basis denial - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that denies painful thoughts displacement - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that transfers affect or reaction from the original object to some more acceptable one idealisation, idealization - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that splits something you are ambivalent about into two representations--one good and one bad intellectualisation, intellectualization - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that uses reasoning to block out emotional stress and conflict isolation - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which memory of an unacceptable act or impulse is separated from the emotion originally associated with it projection - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism by which your own traits and emotions are attributed to someone else psychoanalytic process - a process that is assumed to occur in psychoanalytic theory rationalisation, rationalization - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism by which your true motivation is concealed by explaining your actions and feelings in a way that is not threatening reaction formation - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which a person unconsciously develops attitudes and behavior that are the opposite of unacceptable repressed desires and impulses and serve to conceal them; "his strict morality is just a reaction formation to hide his sexual drive" regression - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which you flee from reality by assuming a more infantile state repression - (psychiatry) the classical defense mechanism that protects you from impulses or ideas that would cause anxiety by preventing them from becoming conscious |
2. | defence - (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring; "his teams are always good on defense" | |
3. | defence - the defendant and his legal advisors collectively; "the defense called for a mistrial" aggregation, collection, accumulation, assemblage - several things grouped together or considered as a whole | |
4. | defence - an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack; "he joined the defense against invasion" organization, organisation - a group of people who work together bastion - a group that defends a principle; "a bastion against corruption"; "the last bastion of communism" | |
5. | defence - the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions; "his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive"; "in defense he said the other man started it" answer - the speech act of replying to a question confutation - the speech act of refuting conclusively rebuttal - the speech act of refuting by offering a contrary contention or argument | |
6. | defence - the justification for some act or belief; "he offered a persuasive defense of the theory" justification - a statement in explanation of some action or belief alibi - (law) a defense by an accused person purporting to show that he or she could not have committed the crime in question exculpation, excuse, self-justification, alibi - a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.; "he kept finding excuses to stay"; "every day he had a new alibi for not getting a job"; "his transparent self-justification was unacceptable" | |
7. | defence - a structure used to defend against attack; "the artillery battered down the defenses" cheval-de-frise, chevaux-de-frise - defensive structure consisting of a movable obstacle composed of barbed wire or spikes attached to a wooden frame; used to obstruct cavalry fortification, munition - defensive structure consisting of walls or mounds built around a stronghold to strengthen it line of defence, line of defense - defensive structure consisting of a barrier that can be employed for defense against attack outwork - subsidiary defensive structure lying outside the main fortified area; "the outworks of the castle" stronghold, fastness - a strongly fortified defensive structure structure, construction - a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts; "the structure consisted of a series of arches"; "she wore her hair in an amazing construction of whirls and ribbons" | |
8. | defence - a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him; "he gave evidence for the defense" due process, due process of law - (law) the administration of justice according to established rules and principles; based on the principle that a person cannot be deprived of life or liberty or property without appropriate legal procedures and safeguards trial - (law) the determination of a person's innocence or guilt by due process of law; "he had a fair trial and the jury found him guilty"; "most of these complaints are settled before they go to trial" entrapment - a defense that claims the defendant would not have broken the law if not tricked into doing it by law enforcement officials law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order" | |
9. | defence - (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies; "they died in the defense of Stalingrad"; "they were developed for the defense program" umbrella - a formation of military planes maintained over ground operations or targets; "an air umbrella over England" military action, action - a military engagement; "he saw action in Korea" air defense - defensive measures designed to destroy attacking enemy aircraft or missiles or to nullify their effectiveness stand - a defensive effort; "the army made a final stand at the Rhone" hasty defence, hasty defense - a defense organized while in contact with the enemy or when time is limited deliberate defence, deliberate defense - a defense organized before contact is made with the enemy and while time for organization is available; usually includes a fortified zone (with pillboxes) and communication systems biodefence, biodefense, biological defence, biological defense - procedures involved in taking defensive measures against attacks using biological agents chemical defence, chemical defense - procedures involved in taking defensive measures against attacks using chemical agents minelaying, mining - laying explosive mines in concealed places to destroy enemy personnel and equipment biological warfare defence, biological warfare defense, BW defence, BW defense - defense against biological warfare armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker" | |
10. | defence - protection from harm; "sanitation is the best defense against disease" protection - the activity of protecting someone or something; "the witnesses demanded police protection" | |
11. | defence - the act of defending someone or something against attack or injury; "a good boxer needs a good defense"; "defense against hurricanes is an urgent problem" protection - the activity of protecting someone or something; "the witnesses demanded police protection" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
defence
U.S. defensenoun
1. protection, cover, security, guard, shelter, refuge, resistance, safeguard, immunity The land was flat, giving no scope for defence.
2. armaments, weapons, deterrents, the military, the army, the navy, the air force Twenty-eight per cent of the federal budget is spent on defense.
3. argument, explanation, excuse, plea, apology, justification, vindication, rationalization, apologia, exoneration, exculpation, extenuation a spirited defence of the government's economic progress
4. plea (Law) case, claim, pleading, declaration, testimony, denial, alibi, vindication, rebuttal His defence was that records were fabricated by the police.
plural noun
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
دِفاعدِفَاعوِقايَه
obranaochranaobhajoba
forsvarværn
puolustus
obrana
vörn
防御
수비
apsigynimasbeginklisbejėgisgynybapasiteisinimas
aizsardzībaaizstāvēšanaaizstāvība
obrana
obramba
försvar
การป้องกัน
sự phòng thủ
defence
defense (US) [dɪˈfens]A. N (all senses) → defensa f
as a defence against → como defensa contra
the body's defences against disease → las defensas del organismo contra la enfermedad
the case for the defence → el argumento de la defensa
counsel for the defence → abogado/a m/f defensor(a)
Department of Defense (US) = Ministry of Defence
in his defence → en su defensa
what have you to say in your own defence? → ¿qué tiene usted que decir or alegar en defensa propia?
in defence of sth → en defensa de algo
to come out in defence of → salir en defensa de
Minister of Defence (Brit) → Ministro m de Defensa
Ministry of Defence (Brit) → Ministerio m de Defensa
Secretary (of State) for Defence (Brit)
Secretary of Defense (US) → Ministro m de Defensa
witness for the defence → testigo mf de cargo, testigo mf de la defensa
as a defence against → como defensa contra
the body's defences against disease → las defensas del organismo contra la enfermedad
the case for the defence → el argumento de la defensa
counsel for the defence → abogado/a m/f defensor(a)
Department of Defense (US) = Ministry of Defence
in his defence → en su defensa
what have you to say in your own defence? → ¿qué tiene usted que decir or alegar en defensa propia?
in defence of sth → en defensa de algo
to come out in defence of → salir en defensa de
Minister of Defence (Brit) → Ministro m de Defensa
Ministry of Defence (Brit) → Ministerio m de Defensa
Secretary (of State) for Defence (Brit)
Secretary of Defense (US) → Ministro m de Defensa
witness for the defence → testigo mf de cargo, testigo mf de la defensa
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
defence
[dɪˈfɛns] (British) defense [ˈdiːfɛns] (US) n
(= protection) [people] → défense f
defence against sth [+ disease, recession, attack] → défense contre qch
to come to sb's defence → prendre la défense de qn
to spring to the defence of sb → prendre la défense de qn
in defence of → en défense de
defence against sth [+ disease, recession, attack] → défense contre qch
to come to sb's defence → prendre la défense de qn
to spring to the defence of sb → prendre la défense de qn
in defence of → en défense de
[country] → défense f Ministry of Defence, Department of Defense
(LAW) (in court) (= case) → défense f
to conduct one's own defence → assurer sa propre défense
witness for the defence → témoin m à décharge
to conduct one's own defence → assurer sa propre défense
witness for the defence → témoin m à décharge
(LAW) (= defending lawyers) the defence → la défense
(= justification) → justification f
in defence of sth [speak, write] → en défense de qch
in defence of sb → à la défense de qn
in defence of sth [speak, write] → en défense de qch
in defence of sb → à la défense de qn
(SPORT) → défense f
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
defence
, (US) defensen
no pl → Verteidigung f no pl; in his defence → zu seiner Verteidigung; to come to somebody’s defence → jdn verteidigen; to put up or make a spirited defence of somebody/something → jdn/etw mutig verteidigen; his only defence was … → seine einzige Rechtfertigung war …
(= form of protection) → Abwehr- or Schutzmaßnahme f; (Mil: = fortification etc) → Befestigung f, → Verteidigungsanlage f; as a defence against → als Schutz gegen; his defences were down → er war wehrlos; she caught me when my defences were down → sie erwischte mich in einem schwachen Augenblick (inf)
defence
, (US) defense:defence counsel
n → Verteidiger(in) m(f)
defence expenditure
n → Verteidigungsausgaben pl
defenceless, (US) defenseless
adj → schutzlos
defenceman
n pl <-men> (Ice hockey) → Verteidiger m
defence mechanism
n (Physiol, Psych) → Abwehrmechanismus m
defence minister
n → Verteidigungsminister(in) m(f)
defence system
n (Biol) → Abwehrsystem nt
defence witness
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
defence
defense (Am) [dɪˈfɛns]1. n → difesa
in defence of → in difesa di
in his defence → in sua difesa
the Ministry of Defence (Brit) the Department of Defense (Am) → il Ministero della Difesa
the case for the defence → la difesa
witness for the defence → teste m/f a difesa
the body's defences against disease → le difese naturali dell'organismo contro la malattia
as a defence against → per ripararsi da, come difesa contro
in defence of → in difesa di
in his defence → in sua difesa
the Ministry of Defence (Brit) the Department of Defense (Am) → il Ministero della Difesa
the case for the defence → la difesa
witness for the defence → teste m/f a difesa
the body's defences against disease → le difese naturali dell'organismo contro la malattia
as a defence against → per ripararsi da, come difesa contro
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
defence
(diˈfens) (American) defense noun1. the act or action of defending against attack. the defence of Rome; He spoke in defence of the plans.
2. the method or equipment used to guard or protect. The walls will act as a defence against flooding.
3. a person's answer to an accusation especially in a law-court. What is your defence?
deˈfenceless adjective helpless or without protection.
the defence the case on behalf of a person who is accused in a law court. the counsel for the defence.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
defence
→ دِفَاع obrana forsvar Verteidigung άμυνα defensa puolustus défense obrana difesa 防御 수비 verdediging forsvar obrona defesa защита försvar การป้องกัน savunma sự phòng thủ 防守Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009