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   defend

   /dɪˈfɛnd/

   verb

   • 1. resist an attack made on (someone or something); protect from harm or danger: "we shall defend our island, whatever the cost" Similar protectguardsafeguardkeep from harmpreservesecureshieldshelterscreenfortifygarrisonbarricadefight forupholdsupportbe on the side oftake up cudgels forwatch overbe the defender ofOpposite attack
   • ▪ speak or write in favour of (an action or person); attempt to justify: "he defended his policy of imposing high rates" Similar justifyvindicateargue/speak forspeak on behalf ofsupportspeak in support ofgive an apologia formake a case forplead formake excuses forexcuseexoneratepalliateexplaingive reasons forgive the rationale behindsupportspeak in support ofbackstand bystick up forstand up forargue forchampionendorseupholdcome to the defence ofsustainbolsterinformal:throw one's weight behindOpposite attackcriticizecriticize
   • ▪ compete to retain (a title or seat) in a contest or election: "he won the party's nomination to defend the Welsh seat"
   • 2. conduct the case for (the party being accused or sued) in a lawsuit: "he is a lawyer who specializes in defending political prisoners"
   • 3. (in sport) protect one's goal or wicket rather than attempt to score against one's opponents: "they were forced to defend for long periods"

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French defendre, from Latin defendere, from de- ‘off’ + -fendere ‘to strike’. Compare with offend.

   Derivatives

   • 1. defendable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • D

     2

   • E

     1

   • F

     4

   • E

     1

   • N

     1

   • D

     2

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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › defendDefend Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › defend

   • Cached

   The meaning of DEFEND is to drive danger or attack away from. How to use defend in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Defend.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishDEFEND | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   DEFEND definition: 1. to protect someone or something against attack or criticism: 2. to speak or write in support of…. Learn more.

4. www.merriam-webster.com › thesaurus › defendDEFEND Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › thesaurus › defend

   • Cached

   Synonyms for DEFEND: protect, safeguard, guard, shield, fend, keep, secure, fence; Antonyms of DEFEND: attack, assault, assail, submit, overrun, beset, bombard, cave.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishDEFEND definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   1. to protect (a person, place, etc) from harm or danger; ward off an attack on. 2. (transitive) to support in the face of criticism, esp by argument or evidence. 3. to represent (a defendant) in court in a civil or criminal action. 4. sport. to guard or protect (oneself, one's goal, etc) against attack.

6. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english-wordDEFEND - Find out everything about this English word | Collins

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english-word

   • Cached

   1. If you defend someone or something, you take action in order to protect them. [...] 2. If you defend someone or something when they have been criticized, you argue in support of them. [...] 3. When a lawyer defends a person who has been accused of something, the lawyer argues on their behalf in a court of law that the charges are not true. [...]

7. www.dictionary.com › browse › defendDEFEND Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › defend

   • Cached

   Defend definition: to ward off attack from; guard against assault or injury (usually followed by from or against). See examples of DEFEND used in a sentence.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryDEFEND | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   DEFEND meaning: 1. to protect someone or something from being attacked, especially by fighting: 2. to support…. Learn more.

9. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › defendDefend - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › defend

   Defend has different shades of meaning, but it always has the sense of protecting something — your ideas, for instance, or your title as world heavyweight champion.

10. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishdefend verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

    • Cached

    Definition of defend verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

11. www.thefreedictionary.com › defendDefend - definition of defend by The Free Dictionary

    www.thefreedictionary.com › defend

    • Cached

    To make or keep safe from danger, attack, or harm: a vaccine to defend the body from infection. b. To engage in or be prepared to engage in battle to prevent (a population or area, for example) from being captured or occupied by an enemy. 2. Sports.