'Defense' definitions:

Definition of 'defense'

(from WordNet)
noun
(military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies; "they died in the defense of Stalingrad"; "they were developed for the defense program" [syn: defense, defence, defensive measure]
noun
Protection from harm; "sanitation is the best defense against disease" [syn: defense, defence]
noun
(sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring; "his teams are always good on defense" [syn: defense, defence, defending team] [ant: offence, offense]
noun
The justification for some act or belief; "he offered a persuasive defense of the theory" [syn: defense, defence, vindication]
noun
(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires [syn: defense mechanism, defense reaction, defence mechanism, defence reaction, defense, defence]
noun
The federal department responsible for safeguarding national security of the United States; created in 1947 [syn: Department of Defense, Defense Department, United States Department of Defense, Defense, DoD]
noun
The defendant and his legal advisors collectively; "the defense called for a mistrial" [syn: defense, defence, defense team, defense lawyers] [ant: prosecution]
noun
The speech act of answering an attack on your assertions; "his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive"; "in defense he said the other man started it" [syn: refutation, defense, defence]
noun
An organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack; "he joined the defense against invasion" [syn: defense, defence, defense force, defence force]
noun
A structure used to defend against attack; "the artillery battered down the defenses" [syn: defensive structure, defense, defence]
noun
A defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him; "he gave evidence for the defense" [syn: defense, defence, denial, demurrer] [ant: criminal prosecution, prosecution]
noun
The act of defending someone or something against attack or injury; "a good boxer needs a good defense"; "defense against hurricanes is an urgent problem" [syn: defense, defence]

Definition of 'Defense'

From: GCIDE
  • Defense \De*fense"\, Defence \De*fence"\, n. [F. d['e]fense, OF. defense, fem., defens, masc., fr. L. defensa (cf. LL. defensum), from defendere. See Defend, and cf. Fence.]
  • 1. The act of defending, or the state of being defended; protection, as from violence or danger. [1913 Webster]
  • In cases of defense 't is best to weigh The enemy more mighty than he seems. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. That which defends or protects; anything employed to oppose attack, ward off violence or danger, or maintain security; a guard; a protection. [1913 Webster]
  • War would arise in defense of the right. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]
  • God, the widow's champion and defense. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Protecting plea; vindication; justification. [1913 Webster]
  • Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense. --Acts xxii. 1. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Law) The defendant's answer or plea; an opposing or denial of the truth or validity of the plaintiff's or prosecutor's case; the method of proceeding adopted by the defendant to protect himself against the plaintiff's action. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Act or skill in making defense; defensive plan or policy; practice in self defense, as in fencing, boxing, etc. [1913 Webster]
  • A man of great defense. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
  • By how much defense is better than no skill. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • Severe defenses . . . against wearing any linen under a certain breadth. --Sir W. Temple. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Defense'

From: GCIDE
  • Defense \De*fense"\, v. t. To furnish with defenses; to fortify. [Obs.] [Written also defence.] [1913 Webster]
  • Better manned and more strongly defensed. --Hales. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'defense'

From: Moby Thesaurus