defend

Universal Words verb protect against attack 1 ~ (sb / yourself / sth) (from / against sb/sth) to protect sb/sth from attack: [VN] All our officers are trained to defend themselves against knife attacks. * Troops have been sent to defend the borders. * The male ape defends his females from other males. * [V] It is impossible to defend against an all-out attack. support 2 [VN] ~ sb / yourself / sth (from / against sb/sth) to say or write sth in support of sb/sth that has been criticized: Politicians are skilled at defending themselves against their critics. * How can you defend such behaviour? * He defended his decision to punish the boy. in sport 3 [V, VN] (in football, hockey, etc.) to protect your own goal to stop your opponents from scoring in competitions 4 [VN] 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 to act as a lawyer for sb who has been charged with a crime: [VN] He has employed one of the UK's top lawyers to defend him. * Smith has announced that she will defend herself in the case. [also V]