de ‧ fend S3 W3 /dɪˈfend/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : DEFENCE/DEFENSE , ↑ defendant , ↑ defender , ↑ defensiveness ; adjective : DEFENCELESS/DEFENSELESS , ↑ defensible ≠ ↑ indefensible , ↑ defensive ; adverb : ↑ defensibly ≠ ↑ indefensibly , ↑ defensively ; verb : ↑ defend ]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: defendre , from Latin defendere , from fendere 'to hit' ]
1 . [intransitive and transitive] to do something in order to protect someone or something from being attacked:
a struggle to defend our homeland
defend something against/from something
the need to defend democracy against fascism
defend yourself (against/from somebody/something)
advice on how women can defend themselves from sex attackers
defend against
We need to defend against military aggression.
2 . [transitive] to use arguments to protect something or someone from criticism, or to prove that something is right OPP attack :
She was always defending her husband in front of their daughter.
Students should be ready to explain and defend their views.
defend somebody against/from somebody/something
He defended his wife against rumours and allegations.
defend yourself (against/from something)
Cooper wrote to the journal immediately, defending himself.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say stand up for someone rather than defend someone:
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She was the only person who stood up for me at the meeting.
3 . [transitive] to do something in order to stop something from being taken away or in order to make it possible for something to continue:
the workers’ attempts to defend their interests
We are defending the right to demonstrate.
4 . [intransitive and transitive] to protect your own team’s end of the field in a game such as football, in order to prevent your opponents from getting points OPP attack :
Bournemouth defended well throughout the game.
5 . [transitive] to take part in a competition that you won the last time it was held, and try to win it again:
The world champion was defending his title.
the defending champion
He is defending a Labour majority of 5,000.
6 . [intransitive and transitive] to be a lawyer for someone who has been charged with a crime OPP prosecute :
He had top lawyers to defend him.
Howard, defending, said Thompson had been drinking heavily.
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THESAURUS
▪ defend to say something to support an idea or person when other people are criticizing them:
The mayor defended the action, saying that it was the best option.
▪ stand up for somebody/something to strongly defend someone who is being criticized, or strongly defend your ideas or your rights:
My grandfather would always stand up for what was right.
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I don't want him fighting, but I do want him to stand up for himself.
▪ stick up for somebody informal to strongly defend someone who is being criticized, especially when no one else will defend them:
The other kids tease her, but Sarah often sticks up for her.
▪ come to somebody's defence British English ( also come to somebody's defense American English ) to say something to defend someone who is being criticized:
Aitken's colleagues quickly came to his defence.