defend
[ dih-fend ]
/ dɪˈfɛnd /
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
Law. to enter or make a defense.
Sports. to prevent the opposing team from scoring: She’s a freshman who already scores and defends like a professional.
SYNONYMS FOR defend
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Origin of defend
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English defenden, from Old French défendre, from Latin dēfendere “to ward off, repel,” equivalent to dē- de- + -fendere “to strike”
synonym study for defend
1. Defend, guard, preserve, protect all mean to keep safe. To defend is to strive to keep safe by resisting attack: to defend one's country. To guard is to watch over in order to keep safe: to guard a camp. To preserve is to keep safe in the midst of danger, either in a single instance or continuously: to preserve a spirit of conciliation. To protect is to keep safe by interposing a shield or barrier: to protect books by means of heavy paper covers.
OTHER WORDS FROM defend
Words nearby defend
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for defend
British Dictionary definitions for defend
defend
/ (dɪˈfɛnd) /
verb
to protect (a person, place, etc) from harm or danger; ward off an attack on
(tr) to support in the face of criticism, esp by argument or evidence
to represent (a defendant) in court in a civil or criminal action
sport to guard or protect (oneself, one's goal, etc) against attack
(tr) to protect (a championship or title) against a challenge
Derived forms of defend
defendable, adjectivedefender, nounWord Origin for defend
C13: from Old French defendre, from Latin dēfendere to ward off, from de- + -fendere to strike
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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