Tra từ defence - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

de·fence [defence defences] (especially US de·fense)BrE [dɪˈfens] NAmE [dɪˈfens] noun

PROTECTION AGAINST ATTACK
1. uncountable the act of protecting sb/sth from attack, criticism, etc
•soldiers who died in defence of their country
• When her brother was criticized she leapt to his defence.
• What points can be raised in defence of this argument?
•I have to say in her defence that she knew nothing about it beforehand.
see also ↑self-defence
2. countable, uncountable ~ (against sth) something that provides protection against attack from enemies, the weather, illness, etc
• The town walls were built as a defence against enemy attacks.
• The harbour's sea defences are in poor condition.
•The body has natural defence mechanisms to protect it from disease.
•Humour is a more effective defence than violence.
3. uncountable the organization of the people and systems that are used by a government to protect a country from attack: (BrE)the Ministry of Defence
• (NAmE)the Department of Defense
• Further cuts in defence spending are being considered.

SUPPORT
4. countable something that is said or written in order to support sth
•a defence of Marxism

LAW
5. countable what is said in court to prove that a person did not commit a crime; the act of presenting this argument in court
• Her defence was that she was somewhere completely different at the time of the crime.
•He wanted to conduct his own defence.
6. the defencesingular + singular or plural verb the lawyer or lawyers whose job is to prove in court that a person did not commit a crime
compare ↑prosecution

IN SPORT
7. singular, uncountable the players who must prevent the other team from scoring; the position of these players on the sports field
• Welford cut through the defence to score the winning goal.
• (BrE) She plays in defence.
• (NAmE)He plays on defense.
compare ↑attack, ↑offense
8. countable a contest, game, etc. in which the previous winner or winners compete in order to try to win again
•Barcelona's defence of the Champions League title
See also: ↑defense

Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French defens, from late Latin defensum (neuter), defensa (feminine), past participles of defendere ‘defend’.

Thesaurus:
defence (BrE) (AmE defense)noun C, U
•The body has natural defence mechanisms.
protection • • shield • • safeguard • • cover • • screen • • precaution • • security • • buffer •
(a) defence/protection/shield/safeguard/precaution/buffer against sth
as (a) defence/protection/shield/safeguard/cover/screen/precaution/buffer
(an) adequate defence/protection/safeguard/precaution/security
provide (a) defence/protection/shield/safeguard/cover/screen/precaution/security/buffer

Example Bank:
•He plays on defence.
•She spoke in his defence.
•The judge rejected her insanity defence.
•The sea breached the coastal defences in a number of spots.
•They are building up defences along the river.
•They put up an effective defence against the guerrilla forces.
•With her tears and angry accusations she completely overwhelmed his defences.
•With her tears she completely overwhelmed his defences.
•a defence to murder
•defence against attacks from the north
•the body's natural defence against viruses
•to fight in defence of your country
•to plan the defence of harbour
•to play in defence
•He always sprang to Rose's defence when Ed tried to criticize her.
•He has shown courage in coming to the defence of the embattled president.
•He paid tribute to all those who had died in defence of their country.
•Her defence was that she was somewhere completely different at the time of the crime.
•I have to say in her defence that she knew nothing about it beforehand.
•The body has natural defence mechanisms to protect it from disease.
•The harbour's sea defences are in poor condition.
•The man later told police that he was acting in self-defence.
•When her brother was criticized she leapt to his defence.