defense

/di-ˈfen(t)s/

Middle English defense, defence, borrowed from Anglo-French defens, defense, defence, borrowed from Medieval Latin dēfensa, dēfensum (Late Latin dēfensa "vengeance"), nominal derivatives from feminine and neuter of Latin dēfensus, past participle of dēfendere "to ward off, defend

noun

  1. the act or action of defending

  2. the denial, answer, or plea of one against whom a criminal or civil action is brought : a defendant 's denial, answer, or plea

  3. capability of resisting attack

the defense of our country

verb

  1. to take specific defensive action against (an opposing team or player or an offensive play) : to attempt to keep (an opponent or play) from scoring in a game or contest

The gangly Pressey was clearly Milwaukee's only real hope of defensing Bird …