defence

English

Alternative forms

• defense (US)

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /dɪˈfɛns/
• (US) IPA: /ˈdifɛns/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛns

Noun

defence (plural defences)

1. The action of protecting from attack.
2. Something used to oppose attack.
   • 1592—1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet XII:

     And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defence

     Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.

3. An argument in support or justification of something.
   • 1592—1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet LXXXIX:

     Speak of my lameness, and I straight will halt,

     Against thy reasons making no defence.

4. (obsolete) Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance.
   • Sir W. Temple

     Severe defences […] against wearing any linen under a certain breadth.

Synonyms

• See Wikisaurus:defence

Antonyms

• offence

Derived terms

• Nuremberg defence

Translations

defence — see defense

Verb

defence (third-person singular simple present defences, present participle defencing, simple past and past participle defenced)

1. (obsolete, transitive) To furnish with defences; to fortify.
   • Hales

     Better manned and more strongly defenced.