defend
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Related to defend: defend against
de·fend
(dĭ-fĕnd′)v. de·fend·ed, de·fend·ing, de·fends
v.tr.
1.
a. To make or keep safe from danger, attack, or harm: a vaccine to defend the body from infection.
b. To engage in or be prepared to engage in battle to prevent (a population or area, for example) from being captured or occupied by an enemy.
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).
3. To compete against a challenger in an attempt to retain (a championship).
4. To support or maintain, as by argument or action; justify: defended his friend's behavior.
5. Law
a. To represent (a defendant) in a civil or criminal action.
b. To attempt to disprove or invalidate (the claim made by a lawsuit or prosecution): defend a class action; defend a criminal case.
v.intr.
1. To make a defense.
2. Sports To play defense.
[Middle English defenden, from Old French defendre, from Latin dēfendere, to ward off; see gwhen- in Indo-European roots.]
de·fend′a·ble adj.
de·fend′er n.
Synonyms: defend, protect, guard, preserve, shield, safeguard
These verbs mean to make or keep safe from danger, attack, or harm. Defend implies repelling or being ready to repel an attack: The army defended the border against the enemy. The politician responded quickly to defend his reputation.
Protect often suggests keeping something safe by coming between it and any threat of harm or injury: Police protected the stores from looters. Sunglasses protect your eyes.
Guard suggests keeping watch: Their dog guarded the house against intruders.
To preserve something is to protect it from future harm or alteration: An environmental group purchased the wetland to preserve it from commercial development.
Shield suggests providing a barrier against something dangerous or destructive: "Grant's remaining units made their way through heavy timber ... in turn, however, the woods shielded them from Confederate bullets until they were almost on top of the enemy line" (Brooks D. Simpson).
Safeguard implies the vigilant protection of something of great value or importance: The Bill of Rights safeguards our individual liberties.
These verbs mean to make or keep safe from danger, attack, or harm. Defend implies repelling or being ready to repel an attack: The army defended the border against the enemy. The politician responded quickly to defend his reputation.
Protect often suggests keeping something safe by coming between it and any threat of harm or injury: Police protected the stores from looters. Sunglasses protect your eyes.
Guard suggests keeping watch: Their dog guarded the house against intruders.
To preserve something is to protect it from future harm or alteration: An environmental group purchased the wetland to preserve it from commercial development.
Shield suggests providing a barrier against something dangerous or destructive: "Grant's remaining units made their way through heavy timber ... in turn, however, the woods shielded them from Confederate bullets until they were almost on top of the enemy line" (Brooks D. Simpson).
Safeguard implies the vigilant protection of something of great value or importance: The Bill of Rights safeguards our individual liberties.
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.
defend
(dɪˈfɛnd)vb
1. to protect (a person, place, etc) from harm or danger; ward off an attack on
2. (tr) to support in the face of criticism, esp by argument or evidence
3. (Law) to represent (a defendant) in court in a civil or criminal action
4. (General Sporting Terms) sport to guard or protect (oneself, one's goal, etc) against attack
5. (Games, other than specified) (tr) to protect (a championship or title) against a challenge
[C13: from Old French defendre, from Latin dēfendere to ward off, from de- + -fendere to strike]
deˈfendable adj
deˈfender n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
de•fend
(dɪˈfɛnd)v.t.
1. to ward off attack from; guard against assault or injury.
2. to maintain by argument, evidence, etc.; uphold.
3. to contest (a legal charge, claim, etc.).
4. to serve as attorney for (a defendant).
5. to attempt to retain (a championship title) in competition against a challenger.
v.i. 6. to make a defense.
[1200–50; Middle English < Old French defendre < Latin dēfendere to ward off =dē- de- + -fendere to strike]
de•fend′a•ble, adj.
de•fend′er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
defend
Past participle: defended
Gerund: defending
| Imperative |
|---|
| defend |
| defend |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. | defend - argue or speak in defense of; "She supported the motion to strike" apologise, rationalize, apologize, rationalise, justify, excuse - defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success" stick up, stand up - defend against attack or criticism; "He stood up for his friend"; "She stuck up for the teacher who was accused of harassing the student" uphold - stand up for; stick up for; of causes, principles, or ideals |
| 2. | defend - be on the defensive; act against an attack bulwark - defend with a bulwark protect - shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage; "Weatherbeater protects your roof from the rain" ward off - avert, turn away, or repel; "Ward off danger" hold back, arrest, turn back, contain, stop, check - hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of; "Arrest the downward trend"; "Check the growth of communism in South East Asia"; "Contain the rebel movement"; "Turn back the tide of communism" | |
| 3. | defend - protect against a challenge or attack; "Hold that position behind the trees!"; "Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks" protect - shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage; "Weatherbeater protects your roof from the rain" hold - take and maintain control over, often by violent means; "The dissatisfied students held the President's office for almost a week" | |
| 4. | defend - fight against or resist strongly; "The senator said he would oppose the bill"; "Don't fight it!" fight, struggle, contend - be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight; "the tribesmen fought each other"; "Siblings are always fighting"; "Militant groups are contending for control of the country" recalcitrate - show strong objection or repugnance; manifest vigorous opposition or resistance; be obstinately disobedient; "The Democratic senators recalcitrated against every proposal from the Republican side" fend, resist, stand - withstand the force of something; "The trees resisted her"; "stand the test of time"; "The mountain climbers had to fend against the ice and snow" drive back, fight off, repulse, rebuff, repel - force or drive back; "repel the attacker"; "fight off the onslaught"; "rebuff the attack" | |
| 5. | defend - protect or fight for as a champion | |
| 6. | defend - be the defense counsel for someone in a trial; "Ms. Smith will represent the defendant" prosecute - bring a criminal action against (in a trial); "The State of California prosecuted O.J. Simpson" | |
| 7. | defend - state or assert; "He maintained his innocence" vindicate - maintain, uphold, or defend; "vindicate the rights of the citizens" affirm - say yes to |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
defend
verb
1. protect, cover, guard, screen, secure, preserve, look after, shelter, shield, harbour, safeguard, fortify, ward off, watch over, stick up for (informal), keep safe, give sanctuary They defended themselves against some racist thugs.
2. support, champion, justify, maintain, sustain, plead for, endorse, assert, stand by, uphold, vindicate, stand up for, espouse, speak up for, stick up for (informal) Police chiefs strongly defended police conduct.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
defend
verb1. To keep safe from danger, attack, or harm:
Archaic: fend.
2. To support against arguments, attack, or criticism:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يُدَافِعُيُدافِعيُدافِع عَن
bránithájitobhajovat
forsvare
puolustaa
braniti
halda uppi vörnum fyrir, flytja málverja
防御する
방어하다
defendo
apsauginisgynybos
aizstāvēt
branitizagovarjati
försvara
แก้ตัว
bảo vệ
defend
[dɪˈfend]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
defend
[dɪˈfɛnd] vt (against attackers) [+ town, bridge, building] → défendre; [+ person] → défendre
to defend sb from sth → défendre qn de qch
to defend o.s. → se défendre
to defend sb from sth → défendre qn de qch
to defend o.s. → se défendre
(in court) [+ accused person] → défendre
[athlete, boxer, team] [+ title] → défendre
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
defend
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
defend
[dɪˈfɛnd] vt (gen) → difendere; (decision, action) → giustificare; (opinion) → sostenereto defend o.s. (against) → difendersi (da)
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
defend
(diˈfend) verb1. to guard or protect against attack. The soldiers defended the castle; I am prepared to defend my opinions.
2. to conduct the defence of (a person) in a law-court.
deˈfendant noun a person accused or sued in a law-court.
deˈfender noun a person who defends (someone or something). the defenders of the castle.
deˈfensive (-siv) adjective protective or resisting attack. a defensive attitude; defensive action.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
defend
→ يُدَافِعُ bránit forsvare verteidigen υπερασπίζομαι defender puolustaa défendre braniti difendere 防御する 방어하다 verdedigen forsvare obronić defender защищать försvara แก้ตัว savunmak bảo vệ 保卫Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
defend
v. defender.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012