de·fend (d -f nd )v. de·fend·ed, de·fend·ing, de·fends v.tr. 1. To make or keep safe from danger, attack, or harm. 2. Sports a. To attempt to prevent the opposition from scoring while playing in or near (a goal or area of a field, for example). b. To be responsible for guarding (an opposing player). c. To compete against a challenger in an attempt to retain (a championship). 3. To support or maintain, as by argument or action; justify. 4. Law a. To represent (a defendant) in a civil or criminal action. b. To attempt to disprove or invalidate (an action or claim). v.intr. 1. To make a defense. 2. Sports To play defense. [Middle English defenden, from Old French defendre, from Latin d  fendere, to ward off; see gwhen- in Indo-European roots.]de·fend a·ble adj.de·fend er n.Synonyms: defend, protect, guard, preserve, shield, safeguard These verbs mean to make or keep safe from danger, attack, or harm. Defend implies repelling an attack: defending her territory; defended his reputation. Protect often suggests providing a barrier to discomfort, injury, or attack: bought a dog to protect the children; wore sunglasses to protect her eyes. Guard suggests keeping watch: guarded the house against intruders. To preserve is to take measures to maintain something in safety: ecologists working to preserve our natural resources. Shield suggests protecting with a piece of defensive armor: hid the newspaper to shield me from the bad news. Safeguard stresses protection against potential danger: The Bill of Rights safeguards our individual liberties. |
defend
Verb
1. to protect from harm or danger
2. to support in the face of criticism: I spoke up to defend her
3. to represent (a defendant) in court
4. to protect (a title or championship) against a challenge [Latin defendere to ward off]
defender n
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Verb | 1. | defend - argue or speak in defense of; "She supported the motion to strike" apologise, rationalize, apologize, rationalise, justify, excuse - defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success" stick up, stand up - defend against attack or criticism; "He stood up for his friend"; "She stuck up for the teacher who was accused of harassing the student" uphold - stand up for; stick up for; of causes, principles, or ideals |
| 2. | defend - be on the defensive; act against an attack bulwark - defend with a bulwark protect - shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage; "Weatherbeater protects your roof from the rain" ward off - avert, turn away, or repel; "Ward off danger" hold back, arrest, turn back, contain, stop, check - hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of; "Arrest the downward trend"; "Check the growth of communism in South East Asia"; "Contain the rebel movement"; "Turn back the tide of communism" | |
| 3. | defend - protect against a challenge or attack; "Hold that position behind the trees!"; "Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks" protect - shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage; "Weatherbeater protects your roof from the rain" hold - take and maintain control over, often by violent means; "The dissatisfied students held the President's office for almost a week" | |
| 4. | defend - fight against or resist strongly; "The senator said he would oppose the bill"; "Don't fight it!" fight, struggle, contend - be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight; "the tribesmen fought each other"; "Siblings are always fighting"; "Militant groups are contending for control of the country" recalcitrate - show strong objection or repugnance; manifest vigorous opposition or resistance; be obstinately disobedient; "The Democratic senators recalcitrated against every proposal from the Republican side" fend, resist, stand - withstand the force of something; "The trees resisted her"; "stand the test of time"; "The mountain climbers had to fend against the ice and snow" drive back, fight off, repulse, rebuff, repel - force or drive back; "repel the attacker"; "fight off the onslaught"; "rebuff the attack" | |
| 5. | defend - protect or fight for as a champion | |
| 6. | defend - be the defense counsel for someone in a trial; "Ms. Smith will represent the defendant" prosecute - bring a criminal action against (in a trial); "The State of California prosecuted O.J. Simpson" | |
| 7. | defend - state or assert; "He maintained his innocence" vindicate - maintain, uphold, or defend; "vindicate the rights of the citizens" affirm - say yes to |
defend
verb 1. protect, cover, guard, screen, secure, preserve, look after, shelter, shield, harbour, safeguard, fortify, ward off, watch over, stick up for (informal) keep safe, give sanctuary
Translations
v defend [diˈfend]
1 to guard or protect against attack The soldiers defended the castle; I am prepared to defend my opinions. verdedig, opkom vir, beskerm يُدافِع عَن защитавам bránit, hájit forsvare verteidigen υπερασπίζομαι defender kaitsma حفاظت کردن؛ حمایت کردن puolustaa défendre לְהָגֵן बचाव करना obraniti, opravdati (meg)véd mempertahankan verja difendere 守る 방어하다, 지키다 ginti aizstāvēt mempertahankan verdedigen forsvare, verne bronić defender a apăra защищать(ся) brániť braniti braniti försvara ปกป้อง korumak, korumak, savunmak 保衛 захищати(ся), обороняти(ся) حملے سے مدافعت کرنا bảo vệ 保卫
2 to conduct the defence of (a person) in a law-court. verdedig/ verweer behartig يُدافِع (في المَحْكَمَه) защитавам obhajovat forsvare verteidigen αναλαμβάνω την υπεράσπιση κπ. στο δικαστήριο defender kaitsma دفاع کردن puolustaa défendre לְהָגֵן עָל- बचाव करना braniti se na sudu véd membela halda uppi vörnum fyrir, flytja mál difendere 弁護する 변호하다 ginti aizstāvēt membela verdedigen forsvare, være forsvarsadvokat for bronić defender a apăra защищать в суде obhajovať braniti braniti föra ngns talan แก้ต่าง savunmasını yapmak 為...辯護 захищати مقدمے میں مدعا علیہ کی پیروی کرنا bênh vực 为...辩护
n deˈfendant
a person accused or sued in a law-court. verweerder, gedagvaarde مُدَّعى عَلَيْهِ ، مُتَّهَم обвиняем obžalovaný tiltalte; sagsøgte der Angeklagte κατηγορούμενος demandado, acusado kostja متهم؛ مدعی علیه vastaaja accusé, ée, défendeur, deresse נֶאֱשם प्रतिवादी optuženik, okrivljenik alperes terdakwa verjandi imputato 被告 피고 kaltinamasis apsūdzētais defendan beklaagde anklagede, saksøkte oskarżony, pozwany réu acuzat, inculpat, pârât обвиняемый; ответчик obžalovaný, -á obtoženec optuženi svarande จำเลย sanık, davalı 被告 відповідач; підсудний وہ شخص جس کے خلاف دعوی یا استغاثہ دائر کیا جاۓ bị cáo 被告
n deˈfender
a person who defends (someone or something) the defenders of the castle. verdediger حامٍ، مُدافِع، نَصير защитник obhájce; obránce forsvarer; fortaler der Verteidiger υπερασπιστής defensor kaitsja مدافع puolustaja défenseur מָגֵן रक्षक, रखवाला branitelj, zaštitnik védő pembela verjandi, verndari difensore 擁護者 방어자, 수호자 gynėjas aizstāvis pembela verdediger forsvarer obrońca defensor apărător защитник obranca branilec branitelj försvarare ผู้ปกป้อง savunucu 防禦者 захисник, оборонець محافظ یا مدافعت کرنے والا شخص người bảo vệ 防御者
adj deˈfensive [-siv]
protective or resisting attack a defensive attitude; defensive action. defensief, verdedigende optrede دِفاعي، وِقائي защитен obranný defensiv; forsvars- verteidigend αμυντικός defensivo kaitse- تدافعی puolustus- défensif הֲגַנָתִי रक्षात्मक obrambeni, zaštitnički védekező defensif varnar- difensivo 防御的な 방어(용)의, 수동적인 apsauginis, gynybos aizsardzības-; aizsargājošs defensif defensief forsvars-, defensiv obronny defensivo defensiv оборонительный obranný obramben defanzivan defensiv, försvars- ซึ่งสามารถป้องกันไว้ได้ savunmaya yönelik 防禦的 захисний, оборонний مدافعت پر آمادہ có tính chất bảo vệ 防御的
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