Definitions for defend
dɪˈfɛndde·fend

Princeton's WordNet(2.33 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. defend, support, fend for(verb)

   argue or speak in defense of

   "She supported the motion to strike"

2. defend(verb)

   be on the defensive; act against an attack

3. defend, guard, hold(verb)

   protect against a challenge or attack

   "Hold that position behind the trees!"; "Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks"

4. fight, oppose, fight back, fight down, defend(verb)

   fight against or resist strongly

   "The senator said he would oppose the bill"; "Don't fight it!"

5. champion, defend(verb)

   protect or fight for as a champion

6. defend, represent(verb)

   be the defense counsel for someone in a trial

   "Ms. Smith will represent the defendant"

7. maintain, defend(verb)

   state or assert

   "He maintained his innocence"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. defend(Verb)

   To ward off, repel (an attack or attacker).

2. defend(Verb)

   To prevent, to keep (from doing something).

3. defend(Verb)

   To prohibit, forbid.

4. defend(Verb)

   To ward off attacks from; to fight to protect; to guard.

5. defend(Verb)

   To support by words or writing; to vindicate, talk in favour of.

6. defend(Verb)

   To make legal defence of; to represent (the accused).

7. defend(Verb)

   To focus one's energies and talents on preventing opponents from scoring, as opposed to focusing on scoring.

8. defend(Verb)

   To attempt to retain a title, or attempt to reach the same stage in a competition as one did in the previous edition of that competition.

9. defend(Verb)

   To call a raise from the big blind.

Origin: defenden, from deffendre (Modern: défendre), from defendo.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Defend(verb)

   to ward or fend off; to drive back or away; to repel

2. Defend(verb)

   to prohibit; to forbid

3. Defend(verb)

   to repel danger or harm from; to protect; to secure against; attack; to maintain against force or argument; to uphold; to guard; as, to defend a town; to defend a cause; to defend character; to defend the absent; -- sometimes followed by from or against; as, to defend one's self from, or against, one's enemies

4. Defend(verb)

   to deny the right of the plaintiff in regard to (the suit, or the wrong charged); to oppose or resist, as a claim at law; to contest, as a suit

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Defend

   de-fend′, v.t. to keep off anything hurtful: to guard or protect: to maintain against attack: (obs.) to prohibit, forbid: (law) to resist, as a claim: to contest.—adj. Defend′able, that may be defended.—ns. Defend′ant, a defender: (law) a person accused or sued; Defendee′, one who is defended; Defend′er; Defen′sative, a protection; Defensibil′ity.—adjs. Defens′ible, that may be defended; Defens′ive, Defen′sory, serving to defend: in a state or posture of defence.—n. that which defends: posture of defence.—adv. Defens′ively.—Defender of the Faith, a title borne by the sovereigns of England since Henry VIII., on whom it was conferred in 1521 for his book against Luther.—Be on the defensive, to be in the position to defend one's self. [L. defendĕre, defensum, to ward off—de, off, and obs. fendĕre, to strike.]

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'defend' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #4428

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'defend' in Written Corpus Frequency: #4612

3. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'defend' in Verbs Frequency: #456

Anagrams for defend »

1. fended

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of defend in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of defend in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of defend in a Sentence

1. Daniel Scioli:

   I am here to defend you.

2. Nicolas Sarkozy:

   For my part I will defend my convictions.

3. Hartmut Meine:

   The workers know how to defend themselves.

4. Carl Schuster:

   They can defend. but they can't punch back.

5. Delaney Tarr:

   A teacher’s job is to educate, not defend.

Images & Illustrations of defend

Popularity rank by frequency of use