defence
Definitions
General English
- noun protection against something such as attack or infection
- noun a part of a team whose job is to protect the goal
Banking
- noun the action of protecting someone or something against attack
- noun the act of fighting a lawsuit on behalf of a defendant
Cricket
- noun the act or skill of batting as it relates to keeping one’s wicket intact rather than to scoring runsCitation ‘When I began there was very little length-bowling, very little straight play, and little defence either’ (William Beldham in Pycroft 1854 in HM)Citation ‘The art of defence — which is the style of play adapted to stop the ball, as distinguished from the offensive method … — may be roughly divided into forward play and back play’ (Badminton 1888)
- noun the defensive ‘barrier’, consisting of the bat and sometimes also the padded leg, with which a batsman attempts to protect his wicketCitation ‘Border’s defence was beautifully constructed, at least until the end of his career’ (Robin Marlar, Sportstar [Chennai], 4 June 1994)Citation ‘Harmison … became faster with each succeeding ball, and finally barged through Langer’s defence, like a nightclub bouncer bursting through a crowd’ (Haigh 2005)Citation ‘Hoggy shambled out as if it was an Evening Cup tie at Farsley, but he had long taken pride in a stubborn defence’ (David Hopps, Wisden 2006)
Law
- noun the party in a legal case that is being sued by the claimant
- noun the party in a criminal case that is being prosecuted
- noun the legal team representing a party being sued or prosecuted
- noun the arguments used when fighting a case
- noun a document or statement setting out a defendant’s case
Medical
- noun resistance against an attack of a disease
- noun behaviour of a person which is aimed at protecting him or her from harm
Military
- noun an act of resisting an attack
- noun a military power
Politics
- adjective relating to a country’s system of defence
- noun actions taken to protect someone or something against attack
- noun the system of armed forces and weapons that a country uses to protect itself from attack by other countries
- noun something said or done in response to criticism
- noun the case made in a law court in support of the person who is on trial
- noun the lawyer or lawyers who speak in court on behalf of the person who is on trial
- noun measures and structures used to provide protection for something
Sports
- noun in sports, the method or manoeuvres that prevent the other team from scoring
- noun the sports team members who have responsibility for defence
