defence
♦♦ de|fence /dɪf'ens/ (defences)
The spelling defense is used in American English, and in meaning 8 is pronounced /d'iːfens/.
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
Defence is action that is taken to protect someone or something against attack.
The land was flat, giving no scope for defence...
By wielding a knife in defence you run the risk of having it used against you.
2 [N-UNCOUNT] oft N n
Defence is the organization of a country's armies and weapons, and their use to protect the country or its interests.
Twenty eight percent of the federal budget is spent on defense.
...the French defence minister.
3 [N-PLURAL]
The defences of a country or region are all its armed forces and weapons.
...the need to maintain Britain's defences at a sufficiently high level.
4 [N-COUNT] oft N against n
A defence is something that people or animals can use or do to protect themselves.
The immune system is our main defence against disease...
= protection
5 [N-COUNT] oft N of n, also in N
A defence is something that you say or write which supports ideas or actions that have been criticized or questioned.
Chomsky's defence of his approach goes further...
= justification
6 [N-COUNT] oft with poss
In a court of law, an accused person's defence is the process of presenting evidence in their favour.
He has insisted on conducting his own defence.
7 [N-SING] usu the N
The defence is the case that is presented by a lawyer in a trial for the person who has been accused of a crime. You can also refer to this person's lawyers as the defence.
The defence was that the records of the interviews were fabricated by the police...
8 [N-SING-COLL] oft poss N, also in N
In games such as football or hockey, the defence is the group of players in a team who try to stop the opposing players scoring a goal or a point.
Their defence, so strong last season, has now conceded 12 goals in six games...
I still prefer to play in defence.
≠ attack
9 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you come to someone's defence, you help them by doing or saying something to protect them.
He realized none of his schoolmates would come to his defense...civ|il de|fence
in AM, use civil defense
[N-UNCOUNT] oft N n
Civil defence is the organization and training of the ordinary people in a country so that they can help the armed forces, medical services, or police force, for example if the country is attacked by an enemy.
...a civil defence exercise.de|fence mecha|nism (defence mechanisms)
[N-COUNT]
A defence mechanism is a way of behaving or thinking which is not conscious or deliberate and is an automatic reaction to unpleasant experiences or feelings such as anxiety and fear.
The spelling defense is used in American English, and in meaning 8 is pronounced /d'iːfens/.
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
Defence is action that is taken to protect someone or something against attack.
The land was flat, giving no scope for defence...
By wielding a knife in defence you run the risk of having it used against you.
2 [N-UNCOUNT] oft N n
Defence is the organization of a country's armies and weapons, and their use to protect the country or its interests.
Twenty eight percent of the federal budget is spent on defense.
...the French defence minister.
3 [N-PLURAL]
The defences of a country or region are all its armed forces and weapons.
...the need to maintain Britain's defences at a sufficiently high level.
4 [N-COUNT] oft N against n
A defence is something that people or animals can use or do to protect themselves.
The immune system is our main defence against disease...
= protection
5 [N-COUNT] oft N of n, also in N
A defence is something that you say or write which supports ideas or actions that have been criticized or questioned.
Chomsky's defence of his approach goes further...
= justification
6 [N-COUNT] oft with poss
In a court of law, an accused person's defence is the process of presenting evidence in their favour.
He has insisted on conducting his own defence.
7 [N-SING] usu the N
The defence is the case that is presented by a lawyer in a trial for the person who has been accused of a crime. You can also refer to this person's lawyers as the defence.
The defence was that the records of the interviews were fabricated by the police...
8 [N-SING-COLL] oft poss N, also in N
In games such as football or hockey, the defence is the group of players in a team who try to stop the opposing players scoring a goal or a point.
Their defence, so strong last season, has now conceded 12 goals in six games...
I still prefer to play in defence.
≠ attack
9 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you come to someone's defence, you help them by doing or saying something to protect them.
He realized none of his schoolmates would come to his defense...civ|il de|fence
in AM, use civil defense
[N-UNCOUNT] oft N n
Civil defence is the organization and training of the ordinary people in a country so that they can help the armed forces, medical services, or police force, for example if the country is attacked by an enemy.
...a civil defence exercise.de|fence mecha|nism (defence mechanisms)
[N-COUNT]
A defence mechanism is a way of behaving or thinking which is not conscious or deliberate and is an automatic reaction to unpleasant experiences or feelings such as anxiety and fear.