/ dɪˈfend; NAmE / verb
PROTECT AGAINST ATTACK
1.
defend (sb / yourself / sth) (from / against sb/sth) to protect sb/sth from attack :
[ vn ]
All our officers are trained to defend themselves against knife attacks.
Troops have been sent to defend the borders.
[ v ]
It is impossible to defend against an all-out attack.
SUPPORT
2.
[ vn ] defend sb / yourself / sth (from / against sb/sth) to say or write sth in support of sb/sth that has been criticized :
Politicians are skilled at defending themselves against their critics.
How can you defend such behaviour?
IN SPORT
3.
[ v , vn ] ( in sports ) to protect your own goal to stop your opponents from scoring
OPP attack
IN COMPETITIONS
4.
[ vn ] to take part in a competition that you won the last time and try to win it again :
He is defending champion .
She will be defending her title at next month's championships.
( politics )
He intends to defend his seat in the next election.
LAW
5.
to act as a lawyer for sb who has been charged with a crime :
[ vn ]
He has employed one of the UK's top lawyers to defend him.
[also v ]
—compare prosecute
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French defendre , from Latin defendere , from de- off + -fendere to strike. Compare with offend .