defensive

adjective

/dɪˈfensɪv/

jump to other results

protecting somebody/something against attack
- As a defensive measure he built a series of coastal forts and watchtowers.
- These are purely defensive measures.
- Troops took up a defensive position around the town.
compare offensive
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verbs
- be
adverb
- purely
- essentially
- largely
- …
See full entry
behaving in a way that shows that you feel that people are criticizing you
- Don't ask him about his plans—he just gets defensive.
- He is extremely defensive about his work.
- Her manner was oddly defensive, as he hadn't intended any criticism at all.
- Whenever anyone mentions women's rights, he gets rather defensive.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verbs
- be
- feel
- look
- …
adverb
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
preposition
- about
See full entry
(sport) connected with trying to prevent the other team or player from scoring points or goals
- defensive play
- a largely defensive campaign
compare offensive

Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French défensif, -ive, from medieval Latin defensivus, from Latin defens- ‘warded off’, from the verb defendere, from de- ‘off’ + -fendere ‘to strike’.

defensive

noun

/dɪˈfensɪv/

Idioms

jump to other results

Idioms

on/onto the defensive

acting in a way that shows that you expect to be attacked or criticized; having to defend yourself
- Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.
- Warnings of an enemy attack forced the troops onto the defensive.

单词	defensive
释义	defensive adjective /dɪˈfensɪv/ /dɪˈfensɪv/ jump to other results protecting somebody/something against attack As a defensive measure he built a series of coastal forts and watchtowers. These are purely defensive measures. Troops took up a defensive position around the town. compare offensive Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs be adverb purely essentially largely … See full entry behaving in a way that shows that you feel that people are criticizing you Don't ask him about his plans—he just gets defensive. He is extremely defensive about his work. Her manner was oddly defensive, as he hadn't intended any criticism at all. Whenever anyone mentions women's rights, he gets rather defensive. Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs be feel look … adverb extremely fairly very … preposition about See full entry (sport) connected with trying to prevent the other team or player from scoring points or goals defensive play a largely defensive campaign compare offensive Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French défensif, -ive, from medieval Latin defensivus, from Latin defens- ‘warded off’, from the verb defendere, from de- ‘off’ + -fendere ‘to strike’. defensive noun /dɪˈfensɪv/ /dɪˈfensɪv/ Idioms jump to other results Idioms on/onto the defensive acting in a way that shows that you expect to be attacked or criticized; having to defend yourself Their questions about the money put her on the defensive. Warnings of an enemy attack forced the troops onto the defensive.
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