defend

de|fend

W3S3 [dıˈfend] v

[Date: 1200-1300; : Old French; Origin: defendre, from Latin defendere, from fendere 'to hit']

1.) [I and T]

to do something in order to protect someone or something from being attacked

▪ a struggle to defend our homeland

defend sth against/from sth

▪ the need to defend democracy against fascism

defend yourself (against/from sb/sth)

▪ advice on how women can defend themselves from sex attackers

defend against

▪ We need to defend against military aggression.

2.) [T]

to use arguments to protect something or someone from criticism, or to prove that something is right

▪ She was always defending her husband in front of their daughter.

▪ Students should be ready to explain and defend their views.

defend sb against/from sb/sth

▪ He defended his wife against rumours and allegations.

defend yourself (against/from sth)

▪ Cooper wrote to the journal immediately, defending himself.

3.) [T]

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.) [I and T]

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

▪ Bournemouth defended well throughout the game.

5.) [T]

to take part in a competition that you won the last time it was held, and try to win it again

▪ The world heavyweight champion was defending his title .

▪ the defending champion

▪ He is defending a Labour majority of 5,000.

6.) [I and T]

to be a lawyer for someone who has been charged with a crime

→↑prosecute

▪ He had top lawyers to defend him.

▪ Howard, defending, said Thompson had been drinking heavily.