defensive (redirected from on the defensive)

de·fen·sive  (d-fnsv)

adj.

1. Intended or appropriate for defending; protective.

2.

a. Intended to withstand or deter aggression or attack: a defensive weapons system; defensive behavior.

b. Of or relating to the effort to prevent an opponent from gaining points in a game or athletic contest.

c. Performed so as to avoid risk, danger, or legal liability: defensive driving; defensive medicine,

3. Of or relating to defense.

4. Psychology Constantly protecting oneself from criticism, exposure of one's shortcomings, or other real or perceived threats to the ego.

n.

1. A means of defense.

2. An attitude or position of defense.

Idiom:

on the defensive

Prepared to withstand or counter aggression or attack.

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de·fensive·ly adv.

de·fensive·ness n.

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defensive [dɪˈfɛnsɪv]

adj

1. intended, suitable, or done for defence, as opposed to offence

2. (Psychology) rejecting criticisms of oneself or covering up one's failings

n

1. a position of defence

on the defensive in an attitude or position of defence, as in being ready to reject criticism

defensively  adv

defensiveness  n

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	defensive - an attitude of defensiveness (especially in the phrase `on the defensive') defensive attitude attitude, mental attitude - a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways; "he had the attitude that work was fun"
Adj.	1.	defensive - intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack; "defensive weapons"; "a defensive stance" protective - intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind; "a protective covering"; "the use of protective masks and equipment"; "protective coatings"; "kept the drunken sailor in protective custody"; "animals with protective coloring"; "protective tariffs" offensive - for the purpose of attack rather than defense; "offensive weapons"
	2.	defensive - attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing justificative, justificatory apologetic, excusatory - offering or expressing apology; "an apologetic note"; "an apologetic manner"

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defensive

adjective

1. protective, guarding, defending, opposing, shielding, safeguarding, watchful, on the defensive, on guard hastily organized defensive measures

2. oversensitive, neurotic, prickly, uptight (informal), thin-skinned, self-justifying, easily offended She heard the blustering, defensive note in his voice.

Translations

defensive [dɪˈfensɪv]

A. ADJ [attitude, measures, play] → defensivo

B. N → defensiva f
to be/go on the defensive → estar/ponerse a la defensiva

C. CPD defensive works NPL → fortificaciones fpl

defensive [dɪˈfɛnsɪv]

adj

[weapon] → défensif/ive

(= self-protective) [person] → sur la défensive; [position, attitude] → défensif/ive

n → défensive f
to be on the defensive → être sur la défensive
to put sb on the defensive → mettre qn sur la défensive

defensive

adj → defensiv (also fig); a good defensive player → ein guter Verteidiger

n (Mil) → Verteidigungs- or Abwehraktion f; to be on the defensive (Mil, fig) → in der Defensive sein; to put somebody on the defensive (fig) → jdn in die Defensive drängen; to go onto the defensive (fig) → sich in die Defensive begeben

defensive [dɪˈfɛnsɪv]

1. adj → difensivo/a; (person) → sulla difensiva

2. n on the defensive → sulla difensiva

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defensive [dɪˈfɛnsɪv]

1. adj → difensivo/a; (person) → sulla difensiva

2. n on the defensive → sulla difensiva