de‧fend S3 W3 / dɪfend / 动词
1 [不及物和及物动词] to do something in order to protect someone or something from being attacked :
a struggle to defend our homeland
defend something against/from something
the need to defend democracy against fascism
defend yourself (against/from somebody/something)
advice on how women can defend themselves from sex attackers
defend against
We need to defend against military aggression.
2 [及物动词] to use arguments to protect something or someone from criticism, or to prove that something is right 反义词 attack :
She was always defending her husband in front of their daughter.
Students should be ready to explain and defend their views.
defend somebody against/from somebody/something
He defended his wife against rumours and allegations.
defend yourself (against/from something)
Cooper wrote to the journal immediately, defending himself.
Register
In everyday English, people usually say stand up for someone rather than defend someone:
She was the only person who stood up for me at the meeting.
3 [及物动词] to do something in order to stop something from being taken away or in order to make it possible for something to continue :
the workers’ attempts to defend their interests
We are defending the right to demonstrate.
4 [不及物和及物动词] to protect your own team’s end of the field in a game such as football, in order to prevent your opponents from getting points 反义词 attack :
Bournemouth defended well throughout the game.
5 [及物动词] to take part in a competition that you won the last time it was held, and try to win it again :
The world champion was defending his title .
the defending champion
He is defending a Labour majority of 5,000.
6 [不及物和及物动词] to be a lawyer for someone who has been charged with a crime 反义词 prosecute :
He had top lawyers to defend him.
Howard, defending, said Thompson had been drinking heavily.
THESAURUS
defend to say something to support an idea or person when other people are criticizing them : The mayor defended the action, saying that it was the best option.
stand up for somebody/something to strongly defend someone who is being criticized, or strongly defend your ideas or your rights : My grandfather would always stand up for what was right. | I don’t want him fighting, but I do want him to stand up for himself.
stick up for somebody informal to strongly defend someone who is being criticized, especially when no one else will defend them : The other kids tease her, but Sarah often sticks up for her.
come to somebody’s defence British English ( also come to somebody’s defense American English ) to say something to defend someone who is being criticized : Aitken’s colleagues quickly came to his defence.