Word Study
defence reaction |
defence system |
defenceless |
defencelessly |
defencelessness |
defend
| defendable
| defendant
| defender
| defender of the faith
| defending
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WORDNET DICTIONARY
OXFORD DICTIONARY
THESAURUS
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defend
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Verb defend has 7 senses
- defend(v = verb.communication) fend for, support - argue or speak in defense of; "She supported the motion to strike" is one way to argue, reason
- defend(v = verb.competition) Array - be on the defensive; act against an attack; Array is one way to keep, prevent
- defend(v = verb.competition) guard, hold - protect against a challenge or attack; "Hold that position behind the trees!"; "Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks" is one way to protect
- defend(v = verb.competition) fight, fight back, fight down, oppose - fight against or resist strongly; "The senator said he would oppose the bill"; "Don't fight it!" is one way to contend, fight, struggle
- defend(v = verb.competition) champion - protect or fight for as a champion; Array is one way to back, endorse, indorse, plump for, plunk for, support
- defend(v = verb.social) represent - be the defense counsel for someone in a trial; "Ms. Smith will represent the defendant" Derived forms noun defence3, noun defendant1
- defend(v = verb.communication) maintain - state or assert; "He maintained his innocence" is one way to affirm
Derived forms noun defence6, noun defender1
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Antonym: attack
Derived forms noun defence2, adjective defensible1, adjective defensive1
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Derived forms noun defence4, noun defender1, adjective defensible1, adjective defensive1
Sample sentence:
Somebody ----s something
Derived form adjective defensive2
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Derived forms noun defender1, adjective defensible1
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Antonym: prosecute
Sample sentence:
They want to defend the prisoners
Derived forms adjective defensible1, adjective defensive2
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
OXFORD DICTIONARY
defend, v.tr. (also absol.)
1 (often foll. by against, from) resist an attack made on; protect (a person or thing) from harm or danger.
2 support or uphold by argument; speak or write in favour of.
3 conduct the case for (a defendant in a lawsuit).
1 (often foll. by against, from) resist an attack made on; protect (a person or thing) from harm or danger.
2 support or uphold by argument; speak or write in favour of.
3 conduct the case for (a defendant in a lawsuit).
Derivative
defendable adj. defender n.
Etymology
ME f. OF defendre f. L defendere: cf. OFFEND
THESAURUS
defend
account, advocate, air, allege in support, answer, argue, argue for, arm, armor, assert, avert, back, battle, bless, bulwark, champion, claim, cloak, compass about, conserve, contend, contend for, copyright, counter, cover, cushion, ensure, espouse, explain, express, fence, fend, fend off, fight, fight for, flank, fortify, guarantee, guard, guard against, harbor, haven, insure, justify, keep, keep from harm, keep safe, maintain, make a plea, make safe, nestle, oppose, parry, patent, plead for, police, preserve, prevent, protect, rationalize, rebut, refute, register, reply, resist, respond, ride shotgun for, riposte, safeguard, save, say in defense, screen, secure, shelter, shield, shroud, speak for, speak up for, stand by, stand up for, stick up for, support, sustain, underwrite, uphold, urge reasons for, utter, vent, vindicate, voice, war, ward, ward off, warrant, watch over, withstandROGET THESAURUS
defend
Defense
VB defend, forfend, fend, shield, screen, shroud, engarrison, fend round, fence, entrench, intrench, guard, guard against, take care of, bear harmless, fend off, keep off, ward off, beat off, beat back, hinder, parry, repel, propugn, put to flight, give a warm reception to, hold at bay, keep at bay, keep arm's length, stand on the defensive, act on the defensive, show fight, maintain one's ground, stand one's ground, stand by, hold one's own, bear the brunt, stand the brunt, fall back upon, hold, stand in the gap.Vindication
N vindication, justification, warrant, exoneration, exculpation, acquittal, whitewashing, extenuation, palliation, palliative, softening, mitigation, reply, defense, recrimination, apology, gloss, varnish, plea, salvo, excuse, extenuating circumstances, allowance, allowance to be made, locus paenitentiae, apologist, vindicator, justifier, defendant, justifiable charge, true bill, v, justify, warrant, be an excuse for, lend a color, furnish a handle, vindicate, exculpate, disculpate, acquit, clear, set right, exonerate, whitewash, clear the skirts of, extenuate, palliate, excuse, soften, apologize, varnish, slur, gloze, put a gloss, put a good face upon, mince, gloss over, bolster up, help a lame dog over a stile, advocate, defend, plead one's cause, stand up for, stick up for, speak up for, contend for, speak for, bear out, keep in countenance, support, plead, say in defense, plead ignorance, confess and avoid, propugn, put in a good word for, take the will for the deed, make allowance for, give credit for, do justice to, give one his due, give the Devil his due, make good, prove the truth of, prove one's case, be justified by the event, vindicated, vindicating, exculpatory, apologetic, excusable, defensible, pardonable, venial, veniable, specious, plausible, justifiable, honi sot qui mal y pense, good wine needs no bush.
For further exploring for "defend" in Webster Dictionary Online