INDEX:
1. to defend a person, place, or country from attack
2. used for defence against attack
3. to defend an idea or person when they are criticized
RELATED WORDS
opposite
↑ ATTACK
↑ CRITICIZE
unable to defend yourself : ↑ WEAK
see also
↑ PROTECT
↑ SAFE
↑ LOOK AFTER
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1. to defend a person, place, or country from attack
▷ defend /dɪˈfend/ [transitive verb]
to use physical or military force to protect a person or place that is being attacked :
▪ Hundreds of soldiers died while defending the town.
▪ US troops in Panama will only be used to defend the Canal.
defend something against/from somebody
▪ The castle was built in 1549 to defend the island against invaders.
defend yourself
▪ Carson claims he was defending himself when he struck the other man.
▷ hold off /ˌhəʊld ˈɒf/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to prevent someone who is attacking you from coming any closer :
hold off somebody/something
▪ The bunkers were built on the cliffs to hold off the enemy’s landing forces.
hold somebody/something off
▪ At that point our troops were too weak to hold them off.
▷ come to somebody’s defence British /defense American /ˌkʌm tə somebodyˈs dɪˈfens/ [verb phrase]
to defend another person or country that is being attacked :
▪ Things seemed to be going badly until NATO forces came to their defence.
come to the defence/defense of somebody
▪ Rhonda came to the defense of her brother by swinging a chain at his attacker.
▷ in defence of something British /defense of something American /ɪn dɪˈfens əv something/ [preposition]
if you do something in defence of a place, especially your country, you do it in order to defend that place :
▪ Would you be prepared to fight in defence of your country?
▪ These brave young men have given their lives in defence of freedom.
2. used for defence against attack
▷ defence British /defense American /dɪˈfens/ [uncountable noun]
all the weapons, soldiers, systems, or activities that a country uses to defend itself against attack by an enemy :
▪ Defense is expected to be a big issue during the next election.
defence/defense spending
money spent on defence
▪ Defence spending has risen by 10% in the current budget.
defence/defense system
▪ The military is continuing to work on its missile defense system.
the defence/defense industry
all the companies that make weapons
▪ The defence industry relies heavily on sales of weapons to foreign countries.
▷ self-defence British /self-defense American /ˌself dɪˈfens/ [uncountable noun]
methods used by countries or people to stop themselves from being attacked or harmed :
▪ All nations have the right to self-defence.
▪ self-defence classes
in self-defence/defense
in order to protect yourself
▪ She claims she shot him in self-defence.
▷ defences British /defenses American /dɪˈfensɪz, dɪˈfensəz/ [plural noun]
all the soldiers and equipment that are available for defending a country or place :
▪ The new radar system is an important part of the country’s defences.
▪ The country has responded to threats of invasion by strengthening its defenses.
▷ defensive /dɪˈfensɪv/ [adjective]
used only for protecting your country or group, not for attacking someone else :
▪ Police officers claimed that their actions during the riots were purely defensive.
defensive weapons/position/measures
▪ According to the report, only defensive weapons had been supplied to Iran.
3. to defend an idea or person when they are criticized
▷ defend /dɪˈfend/ [transitive verb]
to say something to support an idea or person when other people are criticizing them :
▪ It’s difficult to defend a sport that involves hurting animals.
▪ Her speech defended the workers’ right to strike.
▪ The Fire Chief defended his staff and said that they had done everything possible to save the girl’s life.
defend somebody against/from something
▪ She has repeatedly tried to defend her husband against hostile criticism in the press.
defend yourself
▪ Everyone was shouting at me, and I never got a chance to defend myself.
vigorously defend somebody/something
defend them very strongly
▪ Carey vigorously defended his fund-raising methods.
▷ stand up for /ˌstænd ˈʌp fɔːʳ/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to strongly defend someone who is being criticized, or strongly defend your ideas or your rights :
▪ You have to be ready to stand up for the things you believe in.
▪ Didn’t anyone stand up for James and say it wasn’t his fault?
stand up for yourself
▪ Don’t let her get away with that - stand up for yourself.
▷ stick up for /ˌstɪk ˈʌp fɔːʳ/ [transitive phrasal verb] spoken
to strongly defend someone who is being criticized, especially when no one else will defend them :
▪ The only person who stuck up for me was Sarah.
▪ You’re her husband - you should stick up for her.
▷ come to somebody’s defence/come to the defence of somebody British /defense American /ˌkʌm tə somebodyˈs dɪˈfens, ˌkʌm tə ðə dɪˈfens əv somebody/ [verb phrase]
to say something to defend someone who is being criticized :
▪ Dad seemed to think the accident was my fault, but Judy came to my defence and told him what had happened.
▪ A large group of supporters have come to Robinson’s defense.
▪ Surprisingly, Major came to the defence of his old enemy.
▷ in somebody’s defence British /defense American /ɪn somebodyˈs dɪˈfens/ [adverb]
if you say something in someone’s defence, you say it in order to defend them from criticism :
▪ As far as I’m concerned, there is nothing you can say in her defence.
▪ I ought to say, in Jim’s defence, that he only heard about the meeting half an hour ago.
in defence/defense of somebody
▪ No one spoke up in defense of Principal Blackman during the entire meeting.
▷ in defence of something British /defense of something American /ɪn dɪˈfens əv something/ [preposition]
if you do or say something in defence of something, you do or say it to defend something that is very important to you, such as your rights or principles :
▪ The miners went on strike in defence of their jobs.
▪ She spoke bravely and defiantly in defence of human rights.
▷ defence British /defense American /dɪˈfens/ [singular noun]
a written or spoken statement that defends something against criticism, especially something that is very important to you :
defence of
▪ The article was a rather unconvincing defence of her economic record.
strong/robust/spirited/vigorous defence
strong defence
▪ Pacheco gave a vigorous defense of the state’s affirmative action laws.