[de.fense] n [ME, fr. MF, fr. LL defensa vengeance, fr. L, fem. of defensus, pp. of defendere] (14c) 1 a: the act or action of defending "the ~ of our country" "speak out in ~ of justice" b: a defendant's denial, answer, or plea
2. a: capability of resisting attack b: defensive play or ability "a player known for good ~" 3 a: means or method of defending or protecting oneself, one's team, or another; also: a defensive structure b: an argument in support or justification c: the collected facts and method adopted by a defendant to protect himself against a plaintiff's action d: a sequence of moves available in chess to the second player in the opening
4. a: a defending party or group (as in a court of law) "the ~ rests" b: a defensive team
5: the military and industrial aggregate that authorizes and supervises arms production "appropriations for ~" "~ contract" -- de.fense.less adj -- de.fense.less.ly adv -- de.fense.less.ness n
[2]defense vt de.fensed ; de.fens.ing (1950): to take specific defensive action against (an opposing team or player or an offensive play)