defense

Sense 1 noun

(military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies

they died in the defense of Stalingrad

Sense 2 noun

protection from harm

sanitation is the best defense against disease

Sense 3 noun

(sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring

his teams are always good on defense

Sense 4 noun

the justification for some act or belief

he offered a persuasive defense of the theory

Sense 5 noun

(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires

Sense 6 noun

the defendant and his legal advisors collectively

the defense called for a mistrial

Sense 7 noun

the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions

his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive

Sense 8 noun

an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack

he joined the defense against invasion

Sense 9 noun

a structure used to defend against attack

the artillery battered down the defenses

Sense 10 noun

a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him

he gave evidence for the defense

Sense 11 noun

the act of defending someone or something against attack or injury

a good boxer needs a good defense