/dɪ'fend; dɪ`fɛnd/
v
1 [Tn, Tn.pr] ~ sb/sth (from/against sb/sth)
(a) protect sb/sth from harm; guard sb/sth 保护某人[某物]免受伤害; 保卫某人[某事物]
*When the dog attacked me, I defended myself with a stick. 那狗扑向我时, 我用棍子自卫.
* defend sb from attack, an attacker, injury 保护某人免受攻击、免遭袭击者攻打、以免受伤
* defend one's country against enemies 卫国抗敌.
(b) act, speak or write in support of sb/sth 为支持某人[某事]而行动、说话或写文章
*defend one's actions, cause, ideas, leader 为自己的行为、事业、想法、领导辩护
* The newspaper defended her against the accusations. 报纸为她辩护, 驳斥对她的指责.
* defend a lawsuit, ie fight against it in court 对诉讼案进行辩护
* You'll need stronger evidence to defend your claim to the inheritance. 你需要更强有力的证据才能为你的遗产继承权进行辩护.
2 (a) [I, Tn, Tn.pr] (sport 体) protect (the goal, etc) from one's opponents 防守（球门等）; 防卫
*Some players are better at defending. 有些运动员较擅长打防卫.
* They had three players defending the goal (against attack). 他们有三个队员防守球门.
(b) [Tn] (of a sports champion) take part in a contest to keep (one's position) （指运动冠军）参加卫冕 的比赛
*She's running to defend her
400 metres title. 她为蝉联400米冠军而参赛.

v
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French;Origin: defendre, from Latin defendere, from fendere 'to hit']
[I and T]
to do something in order to protect someone or something from being attacked
　a struggle to defend our homeland
defend sth against/from sth
　the need to defend democracy against fascism
defend yourself (against/from sb/sth)
　advice on how women can defend themselves from sex attackers
defend against
　We need to defend against military aggression.
[T]
to use arguments to protect something or someone from criticism, or to prove that something is right
　She was always defending her husband in front of their daughter.
　Students should be ready to explain and defend their views.
defend sb against/from sb/sth
　He defended his wife against rumours and allegations.
defend yourself (against/from sth)
　Cooper wrote to the journal immediately, defending himself.
[T]
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.
[I and T]
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
　Bournemouth defended well throughout the game.
[T]
to take part in a competition that you won the last time it was held, and try to win it again
　The world heavyweight champion was defending his title .
　the defending champion
　He is defending a Labour majority of 5,000.
[I and T]
to be a lawyer for someone who has been charged with a crime
→prosecute
　He had top lawyers to defend him.
　Howard, defending, said Thompson had been drinking heavily.