/ rɪˈzɪstəns; NAmE / noun
1.
[ U , sing. ] resistance (to sb/sth) dislike of or opposition to a plan, an idea, etc.; refusal to obey :
As with all new ideas it met with resistance.
There has been a lot of resistance to this new law.
Resistance to change has nearly destroyed the industry.
2.
[ U , sing. ] resistance (to sb/sth) the act of using force to oppose sb/sth :
armed resistance
The defenders put up a strong resistance .
The demonstrators offered little or no resistance to the police.
3.
[ U , sing. ] resistance (to sth) the power not to be affected by sth :
AIDS lowers the body's resistance to infection.
4.
[ U , sing. ] resistance (to sth) a force that stops sth moving or makes it move more slowly :
wind / air resistance (= in the design of planes or cars)
5.
[ U , C ] ( physics ) ( symb R ) the opposition of a piece of electrical equipment, etc. to the flow of a direct current
—compare reactance
6.
(often the Resistance ) [ sing.+ sing./pl. v . ] a secret organization that resists the authorities, especially in a country that an enemy has control of :
resistance fighters
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IDIOMS
see line noun
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from French résistance , from late Latin resistentia , from the verb resistere hold back, from re- (expressing opposition) + sistere stop (reduplication of stare to stand).