| 释义 |
de·fense
I. \də̇ˈfen(t)s, dēˈ-, ˈdēˌf-\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English defens, defense, from Old French; Old French defens, from Medieval Latin defensum, from Latin, neuter of defensus, past participle of defendere to defend; Old French defense from (assumed) Vulgar Latin defensa, from Latin, feminine of defensus — more at defend
1.
a. : the act of defending
< the defense of Moscow >
< to die in defense of liberty >
— opposed to attack
b. : a defendant's denial, answer, or plea : an opposing or denial of the truth or validity of the plaintiff's or prosecutor's case — compare answer 2c
2. : capability of resisting attack
< a football team weak in defense >
: practice or manner of self-protection
< the body's defenses against disease are weakened by hunger >
— usually used in plural
3.
a. : means or method of defending
< weapons of defense >
: defensive plan, policy, or structure
< the inadequate defenses of the capital were easily penetrated by the enemy troops >
— usually used in plural
b. : the method and collected facts adopted by a defendant to protect himself against a plaintiff's action
c. : a sequence of moves available in chess to the second player in the opening; also : any opening having certain characteristic moves for the second player
d. : an argument prepared or advanced to defend an action, policy, or thesis : justification
4.
a. : defenders or the positions taken up by them
< ran through the defense for a touchdown >
< falsecarding to mislead the defense >
b. : a cricket team's batting power or batsmen — contrasted with attack
5. : a prohibitory ordinance : prohibition especially of fishing or hunting
< the defense months when fish are spawning >
— used chiefly in in defense
< trout streams were put in defense >
II. transitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Middle English defensen, from Middle French defenser, from Latin defensare, from defensus, past participle of defendere to defend — more at defend
1. obsolete : to furnish with defenses : fortify
2.
a. : to impede the progress of (the football player or team in possession of the ball)
< he was thoroughly defensed >
b. : to break up or defend against (a particular play)
< defense the single wing running pass > |