defence

CEFRB1

/dɪˈfɛns/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    Protection from attack, harm, or criticism.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    An argument in support or justification of something.

Examples

  • That's no good! You're tall so you've got to be in the forward defence.

  • The threat increases; a defence that doesn't evolve is meaningless.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. Something used to oppose attacks.

  2. The action of defending, of protecting from attack, danger or injury.

  3. A strategy and tactics employed to prevent the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence.

More examples

In context

  • Soldiers who died in defence of their country

  • 1673, William Temple, “An Essay upon the Advancement of Trade in Ireland” in Miscellanea, London: Edw[ard] Gellibrand, 1680, p. 116, […] severe defences may be made against weaving any Linnen under a certain breadth, such as may be of better use to the poores...

  • Department of Defence

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The castle's thick stone walls provided excellent blank against enemy attacks.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English defens, defense, from Old French defens, defense, from Late Latin dēfēnsa (“protection”). Displaced Old English bewering.