defending

de·fend  (d-fnd)

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.

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[Middle English defenden, from Old French defendre, from Latin dfendere, to ward off; see g^when- in Indo-European roots.]

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de·fenda·ble adj.

de·fender 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.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

defending - attempting to or designed to prevent an opponent from winning or scoring game - a contest with rules to determine a winner; "you need four people to play this game" athletics, sport - an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition defensive - intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack; "defensive weapons"; "a defensive stance"

Translations

defending [dɪˈfendɪŋ] ADJ defending champion (Sport) → campeón m vigente
defending counsel (Jur) → abogado/a m/f defensor(a)

defending

adj defending counsel → Verteidiger(in) m(f); the defending champions → die Titelverteidiger pl

defending [dɪˈfɛndɪŋ] adj defending champion (Sport) → campione/essa in carica
defending counsel (Law) → avvocato difensore