protection from harm; "sanitation is the best defense against disease";
military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies; "they died in the defense of Stalingrad"; "they were developed for the defense program";
a defendant''s answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him; "he gave evidence for the defense";
a structure used for defense; "the artillery battered down the defenses";
the justification for some act or belief; "he offered a persuasive defense of the theory";
the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions; "his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive"; "in defense he said the other man started it";
an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack; "he joined the defense against invasion";
the defendant and his legal advisors collectively; "the defense called for a mistrial";
(sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring; "his teams are always good on defense";
the federal department responsible for safeguarding national security of the UnitedStates; created in 1947;
(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires;
