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- defence
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noun 1.
/dəˈfɛns/ (say duh'fens) resistance against attack; protection.2.
/dəˈfɛns/ (say duh'fens) something that defends, especially a fortification.3.
/dəˈfɛns/ (say duh'fens) the defending of a cause or the like by speech, argument, etc.4.
/dəˈfɛns/ (say duh'fens) a speech, argument, etc., in vindication.5.
/dəˈfɛns/ (say duh'fens) Law
a. a defendant's denial or pleading in answer to a claim or charge.
b. the proceedings adopted by a defendant, or his or her legal agents, for defending a charge.
c. a defendant together with his or her legal agents.6.
/dəˈfɛns/ (say duh'fens), Originally US /ˈdifɛns/ (say 'deefens)
a. the practice or art of defending oneself or one's goal against attack, as in fencing, boxing, soccer, etc.
b. the players in a team collectively whose primary function is to defend the goal, etc.
c. a plan or system of defending.Also, US, defense. [Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin dēfensa prohibition, from Latin dēfendere ward off; replacing Middle English defens, from Old French, from Latin dēfensum (thing) forbidden, properly past participle of dēfendere]
–defenceless, adjective
–defencelessly, adverb
–defencelessness, noun