noun
    
    US or Brit defence  , pl -fenses
    
    the act of defending someone or something from attack [noncount]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    [count] :something that is used to protect yourself, your country, etc.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    the act of speaking or writing in support of someone or something that is being attacked or criticized [noncount]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    usually singular
    
    
    
    
    
    [noncount] :the things that are done by a country to protect itself from enemies
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    [singular] :the side of a legal case which argues that a person who is being sued or accused of a crime is innocent :the lawyer or lawyers who represent the defendant in a court case
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    [count] :the method that is used in a court case to prove that someone is innocent
    
    
    
    
    
    /ˈdiːˌfɛns/
    
    the group of players on a team who try to stop an opponent from scoring [count]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    [noncount] :the way that players on a team try to stop an opponent from scoring