Tra từ defend - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

de·fend [defend defends defended defending] BrE [dɪˈfend] NAmE [dɪˈfend] verb

PROTECT AGAINST ATTACK
1. transitive, intransitive to protect sb/sth from attack
•~ sb/yourself/sth Troops have been sent to defend the borders.
•~ sb/yourself/sth from/against sb/sth All our officers are trained to defend themselves against knife attacks.
•The male ape defends his females from other males.
•~ against sb/sth It is impossible to defend against an all-out attack.

SUPPORT
2. transitive to say or write sth in support of sb/sth that has been criticized
•~ sth How can you defend such behaviour?
• He defended his decision to punish the boy.
•~ sb/yourself/sth from/against sb/sth Politicians are skilled at defending themselves against their critics.

IN SPORT
3. intransitive, transitive ~ (sth) (in sports)to protect your own goal to stop your opponents from scoring
Opp: ↑attack

IN COMPETITIONS
4. transitive ~ sth to take part in a competition that you won the last time and try to win it again
•He is defending champion.
•She will be defending her title at next month's championships.
• (politics)He intends to defend his seat in the next election.

LAW
5. transitive, intransitive ~ (sb/yourself) to act as a lawyer for sb who has been charged with a crime
•He has employed one of the UK's top lawyers to defend him.
•Smith has announced that she will defend herself in the case.
compare ↑prosecute
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French defendre, from Latin defendere, from de- ‘off’ + -fendere ‘to strike’. Compare with ↑offend.

Thesaurus:
defend verb T, I
1.
•He had to defend himself against a knife attack.
protect • • guard • • shield • • shelter • • save • • preserve • • secure • |formal safeguard •
Opp: attack
defend/protect/guard/shield/shelter/save/preserve/secure/safeguard sb/sth from sth
defend/protect/guard/secure/safeguard sth against sth
defend/protect/save yourself
heavily defended/protected/guarded
2. T
•She defended herself against the criticisms.
justify • • explain • • stand up for sb/sth • • account for sth • |informal stick up for sb/sth •
Opp: attack
defend/justify/explain/account for sth to sb
defend/justify/stand up for/stick up for/explain yourself
defend/justify/explain/account for a/your/sb's decision/behaviour
defend/stand up for/stick up for sb's rights

Example Bank:
•She defended her department against accusations of incompetence.
•She successfully defended herself against an attack from someone larger and stronger.
•The champion successfully defended his title against the American challenger.
•The city was heavily defended against attack.
•The company has strenuously defended its decision to reduce the workforce.
•They attacked the left flank, which was only lightly defended.
•He has announced that he will defend himself in the case.
•She has employed one of the UK's top lawyers to defend her.
•She was quick to defend her husband's actions.
•The minister vigorously defended the policy.
•Who's defending?