de·fence (d -f ns )n. & v. Chiefly British Variant of defense. |
defence US, defense [dɪˈfɛns]
n
1. resistance against danger, attack, or harm; protection
2. a person or thing that provides such resistance
3. a plea, essay, speech, etc., in support of something; vindication; justification
4. (Military)
a. a country's military measures or resources
b. (as modifier) defence spending
5. (Law) Law a defendant's denial of the truth of the allegations or charge against him
6. (Law) Law the defendant and his legal advisers collectively Compare prosecution
7. (General Sporting Terms) Sport
a. the action of protecting oneself, one's goal, or one's allotted part of the playing area against an opponent's attacks
b. the method of doing this
c. (usually preceded by the) the players in a team whose function is to do this
8. (Team Sports / American Football) American football (usually preceded by the)
a. the team that does not have possession of the ball
b. the members of a team that play in such circumstances
9. (Psychoanalysis) Psychoanal See defence mechanism
10. (Military / Fortifications) (plural) fortifications
[from Old French, from Late Latin dēfensum, past participle of dēfendere to defend]
defenceless US, defenseless adj
defencelessly US, defenselessly adv
defencelessness US, defenselessness n
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | defence - (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires unconscious process, process - a mental process that you are not directly aware of; "the process of denial" psychiatry, psychological medicine, psychopathology - the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders compensation - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that conceals your undesirable shortcomings by exaggerating desirable behaviors conversion - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism represses emotional conflicts which are then converted into physical symptoms that have no organic basis denial - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that denies painful thoughts displacement - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that transfers affect or reaction from the original object to some more acceptable one idealisation, idealization - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that splits something you are ambivalent about into two representations--one good and one bad intellectualisation, intellectualization - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that uses reasoning to block out emotional stress and conflict isolation - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which memory of an unacceptable act or impulse is separated from the emotion originally associated with it projection - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism by which your own traits and emotions are attributed to someone else psychoanalytic process - a process that is assumed to occur in psychoanalytic theory rationalisation, rationalization - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism by which your true motivation is concealed by explaining your actions and feelings in a way that is not threatening reaction formation - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which a person unconsciously develops attitudes and behavior that are the opposite of unacceptable repressed desires and impulses and serve to conceal them; "his strict morality is just a reaction formation to hide his sexual drive" regression - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which you flee from reality by assuming a more infantile state repression - (psychiatry) the classical defense mechanism that protects you from impulses or ideas that would cause anxiety by preventing them from becoming conscious |
| 2. |  defence - (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring; "his teams are always good on defense" | |
| 3. | defence - the defendant and his legal advisors collectively; "the defense called for a mistrial" aggregation, collection, accumulation, assemblage - several things grouped together or considered as a whole | |
| 4. |  defence - an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack; "he joined the defense against invasion"organization, organisation - a group of people who work together bastion - a group that defends a principle; "a bastion against corruption"; "the last bastion of communism" | |
| 5. | defence - the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions; "his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive"; "in defense he said the other man started it" answer - the speech act of replying to a question confutation - the speech act of refuting conclusively rebuttal - the speech act of refuting by offering a contrary contention or argument | |
| 6. | defence - the justification for some act or belief; "he offered a persuasive defense of the theory" justification - a statement in explanation of some action or belief alibi - (law) a defense by an accused person purporting to show that he or she could not have committed the crime in question exculpation, excuse, self-justification, alibi - a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.; "he kept finding excuses to stay"; "every day he had a new alibi for not getting a job"; "his transparent self-justification was unacceptable" | |
| 7. | defence - a structure used to defend against attack; "the artillery battered down the defenses" cheval-de-frise, chevaux-de-frise - defensive structure consisting of a movable obstacle composed of barbed wire or spikes attached to a wooden frame; used to obstruct cavalry fortification, munition - defensive structure consisting of walls or mounds built around a stronghold to strengthen it line of defence, line of defense - defensive structure consisting of a barrier that can be employed for defense against attack outwork - subsidiary defensive structure lying outside the main fortified area; "the outworks of the castle" stronghold, fastness - a strongly fortified defensive structure structure, construction - a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts; "the structure consisted of a series of arches"; "she wore her hair in an amazing construction of whirls and ribbons" | |
| 8. | defence - a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him; "he gave evidence for the defense" due process, due process of law - (law) the administration of justice according to established rules and principles; based on the principle that a person cannot be deprived of life or liberty or property without appropriate legal procedures and safeguards trial - (law) the determination of a person's innocence or guilt by due process of law; "he had a fair trial and the jury found him guilty"; "most of these complaints are settled before they go to trial" entrapment - a defense that claims the defendant would not have broken the law if not tricked into doing it by law enforcement officials law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order" | |
| 9. | defence - (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies; "they died in the defense of Stalingrad"; "they were developed for the defense program" umbrella - a formation of military planes maintained over ground operations or targets; "an air umbrella over England" military action, action - a military engagement; "he saw action in Korea" air defense - defensive measures designed to destroy attacking enemy aircraft or missiles or to nullify their effectiveness stand - a defensive effort; "the army made a final stand at the Rhone" hasty defence, hasty defense - a defense organized while in contact with the enemy or when time is limited deliberate defence, deliberate defense - a defense organized before contact is made with the enemy and while time for organization is available; usually includes a fortified zone (with pillboxes) and communication systems biodefence, biodefense, biological defence, biological defense - procedures involved in taking defensive measures against attacks using biological agents chemical defence, chemical defense - procedures involved in taking defensive measures against attacks using chemical agents minelaying, mining - laying explosive mines in concealed places to destroy enemy personnel and equipment biological warfare defence, biological warfare defense, BW defence, BW defense - defense against biological warfare armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker" | |
| 10. | defence - protection from harm; "sanitation is the best defense against disease" protection - the activity of protecting someone or something; "the witnesses demanded police protection" | |
| 11. | defence - the act of defending someone or something against attack or injury; "a good boxer needs a good defense"; "defense against hurricanes is an urgent problem" protection - the activity of protecting someone or something; "the witnesses demanded police protection" |
defence U.S. defense
noun
1. protection, cover, security, guard, shelter, refuge, resistance, safeguard, immunity The land was flat, giving no scope for defence.
2. armaments, weapons, deterrents, the military, the army, the navy, the air force Twenty-eight per cent of the federal budget is spent on defense.
3. argument, explanation, excuse, plea, apology, justification, vindication, rationalization, apologia, exoneration, exculpation, extenuation a spirited defence of the government's economic progress
4. plea (Law) case, claim, pleading, declaration, testimony, denial, alibi, vindication, rebuttal His defence was that records were fabricated by the police.
Translations
defence defense (US) [dɪˈfens]
A. N (all senses) → defensa f
as a defence against → como defensa contra
the body's defences against disease → las defensas del organismo contra la enfermedad
the case for the defence → el argumento de la defensa
counsel for the defence → abogado/a m/f defensor(a)
Department of Defense (US) = Ministry of Defence
in his defence → en su defensa
what have you to say in your own defence? → ¿qué tiene usted que decir or alegar en defensa propia?
in defence of sth → en defensa de algo
to come out in defence of → salir en defensa de
Minister of Defence (Brit) → Ministro m de Defensa
Ministry of Defence (Brit) → Ministerio m de Defensa
Secretary (of State) for Defence (Brit)
Secretary of Defense (US) → Ministro m de Defensa
witness for the defence → testigo mf de cargo, testigo mf de la defensa
as a defence against → como defensa contra
the body's defences against disease → las defensas del organismo contra la enfermedad
the case for the defence → el argumento de la defensa
counsel for the defence → abogado/a m/f defensor(a)
Department of Defense (US) = Ministry of Defence
in his defence → en su defensa
what have you to say in your own defence? → ¿qué tiene usted que decir or alegar en defensa propia?
in defence of sth → en defensa de algo
to come out in defence of → salir en defensa de
Minister of Defence (Brit) → Ministro m de Defensa
Ministry of Defence (Brit) → Ministerio m de Defensa
Secretary (of State) for Defence (Brit)
Secretary of Defense (US) → Ministro m de Defensa
witness for the defence → testigo mf de cargo, testigo mf de la defensa
defence [dɪˈfɛns] (British) defense [ˈdiːfɛns] (US)
n
(= protection) [people] → défense f
defence against sth [+ disease, recession, attack] → défense contre qch
to come to sb's defence → prendre la défense de qn
to spring to the defence of sb → prendre la défense de qn
in defence of → en défense de
defence against sth [+ disease, recession, attack] → défense contre qch
to come to sb's defence → prendre la défense de qn
to spring to the defence of sb → prendre la défense de qn
in defence of → en défense de
[country] → défense f Ministry of Defence, Department of Defense
(LAW) (in court) (= case) → défense f
to conduct one's own defence → assurer sa propre défense
witness for the defence → témoin m à décharge
to conduct one's own defence → assurer sa propre défense
witness for the defence → témoin m à décharge
(LAW) (= defending lawyers) the defence → la défense
(= justification) → justification f
in defence of sth [speak, write] → en défense de qch
in defence of sb → à la défense de qn
in defence of sth [speak, write] → en défense de qch
in defence of sb → à la défense de qn
(SPORT) → défense f
defence, (US) defense
defence, (US) defense:
n
no pl → Verteidigung f no pl; in his defence → zu seiner Verteidigung; to come to somebody’s defence → jdn verteidigen; to put up or make a spirited defence of somebody/something → jdn/etw mutig verteidigen; his only defence was … → seine einzige Rechtfertigung war …
(= form of protection) → Abwehr- or Schutzmaßnahme f; (Mil: = fortification etc) → Befestigung f, → Verteidigungsanlage f; as a defence against → als Schutz gegen; his defences were down → er war wehrlos; she caught me when my defences were down → sie erwischte mich in einem schwachen Augenblick (inf)
defence, (US) defense:
defence counsel
n → Verteidiger(in) m(f)
defence expenditure
n → Verteidigungsausgaben pl
defenceless, (US) defenseless
adj → schutzlos
defenceman
n pl <-men> (Ice hockey) → Verteidiger m
defence mechanism
n (Physiol, Psych) → Abwehrmechanismus m
defence minister
n → Verteidigungsminister(in) m(f)
defence system
n (Biol) → Abwehrsystem nt
defence witness
defence defense (Am) [dɪˈfɛns]
1. n → difesa
in defence of → in difesa di
in his defence → in sua difesa
the Ministry of Defence (Brit) the Department of Defense (Am) → il Ministero della Difesa
the case for the defence → la difesa
witness for the defence → teste m/f a difesa
the body's defences against disease → le difese naturali dell'organismo contro la malattia
as a defence against → per ripararsi da, come difesa contro
in defence of → in difesa di
in his defence → in sua difesa
the Ministry of Defence (Brit) the Department of Defense (Am) → il Ministero della Difesa
the case for the defence → la difesa
witness for the defence → teste m/f a difesa
the body's defences against disease → le difese naturali dell'organismo contro la malattia
as a defence against → per ripararsi da, come difesa contro
n defence [diˈfens]
1 the act or action of defending against attack the defence of Rome; He spoke in defence of the plans. verdediging دِفاع защита obrana forsvar die Verteidigung άμυνα defensa kaitse دفاع؛ حمایت puolustus défense הֲגַנָה रक्षा obrana,zaštita védelem pertahanan vörn difesa 防衛 수비 gynimas aizstāvēšana pertahankan verdediging forsvar, vern obrona defesa apărare оборона; защита obrana obramba odbrana försvar การป้องกัน savunma 防衛 захист حملے سے مدافعت کی کارروائی sự phòng thủ 防卫
2 the method or equipment used to guard or protect The walls will act as a defence against flooding. verdediging, beskerming, keerwerk وِقايَه защита ochrana forsvar; værn der Schutz προστασία defensa kaitse, kindlustis محافظ؛ پناه suoja défense אֱמצָעִי הֲגַנָה रक्षा obrana erősítés pertahanan vörn difesa 防御物 방어 apsauga, gynyba aizsardzība pertahanan verdediging vern, forsvar ochrona defesa (mijloc de) apărare защита ochrana obramba odbrana skydd, värn การป้องกัน savunma yöntemi, korunma aracı 防衛方法，防禦物 оборона; оборонна споруда دفاعی وسائل bảo vệ 防卫方法，防御物
3 a person's answer to an accusation especially in a law-court What is your defence? verdediging, verweer دِفاع (في المَحْكَمَه) защита obhajoba forsvar die Verteidigung υπεράσπιση defensa kaitsekõne دفاع puolustus défense קָו הֲגַנַה बचाव obrana na sudu védekezés pembelaan vörn difesa 弁護 변호 apsigynimas, pasiteisinimas aizstāvība pembelaan verdediging forsvar obrona defesa apărare защита obhajoba obramba odbrana försvar[], svaromål ผู้แก้ต่าง savunma, müdafaa ［律］辯護 захист جواب دعوی lời biện hộ ［律］辩护
adj deˈfenceless
helpless or without protection. weerloos, onbeskermd عاجِز، بِدون حِمايَه беззащитен bezbranný forsvarsløs; hjælpeløs schutzlos ανυπεράσπιστος indefenso kaitsetu بی دفاع suojaton sans défense חָסַר הֲגַנָה बेबस, रक्षाहीन nezaštićen, goloruk védtelen tak berdaya varnarlaus indifeso 無防備な 무방비의 bejėgis, beginklis neaizsargāts tidak berdaya weerloos forsvarsløs bezbronny indefeso fără apărare беззащитный bezbranný nezaščiten bespomoćan försvarslös ซึ่งป้องกันตัวไม่ได้ savunmasız 無防禦的 беззахисний لاچار ، نہتّا không có khả năng tự vệ 无防御的
the defence
the case on behalf of a person who is accused in a law court the counsel for the defence. die verdediging الدِّفاع (عن المُدَّعى عَلَيْهِ) защитата obhajoba forsvaret die Verteidigung υπεράσπιση κατηγορουμένου la defensa kaitse وکیل یا وکلای مدافع puolustus la défense הֲגַנָה बचाव slučaj obrane a védelem pembelaan varnaraðilar la difesa 被告側 피고 gynimas, gynyba aizstāvība pertahankan verdediging forsvar(s-) obrona defesa apărarea защита obhajoba obramba odbrana svarandesidan การแก้ต่าง savunma 被告方，辯方 захист ملزم کا وکیل luật sư biện hộ 被告方
defence → دفاع obrana forsvar Verteidigung άμυνα defensa puolustus défense obrana difesa 防御 수비 verdediging forsvar obrona defesa защита försvar การป้องกัน savunma sự phòng thủ 防守
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