{
    "term": "defence",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "the act of protecting somebody/something from attack, criticism, etc.",
            "sensetop": "in defence of somebody/somethingin somebody's defence",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "soldiers who died in defence of their country",
                    "contextForm": "in defence of somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "What points can be raised in defence of this argument?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I have to say in her defence that she knew nothing about it beforehand.",
                    "contextForm": "in somebody's defence"
                },
                {
                    "text": "When her brother was criticized she **leapt to his defence**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to spring/jump/rush to the defence of somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "to fight in defence of your country"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He paid tribute to all those who had died in defence of their country."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She spoke in his defence."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He always sprang to Rose's defence when Ed tried to criticize her."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She has shown courage in coming to the defence of the embattled president."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His friends rallied to his defence."
                },
                {
                    "text": "All available troops were rushed to the defence of the great city."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["War and conflict"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["adequate", "effective", "immune"],
                "verb + defence/​defense": ["come to", "leap to", "rush to"],
                "preposition": ["in defence of", "defence against"],
                "phrases": ["weapons of defence"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "something that provides protection against attack from enemies, the weather, illness, etc.",
            "sensetop": "defence against something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "They are responsible for maintaining coastal **flood defences**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "At this point the country had no effective air defences."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The town walls were built as a defence against enemy attacks.",
                    "contextForm": "defence against something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a new **missile defence** system *(= for defence against )*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The sea breached the coastal defences in a number of spots."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They are building up defences along the river."
                },
                {
                    "text": "defence against attacks from the north"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the body's natural defence against viruses"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They put up an effective defence against the guerrilla forces."
                },
                {
                    "text": "With her tears and angry accusations she completely overwhelmed his defences."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The initial attacks targeted the country's air defences."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["War and conflict"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["effective", "strong", "coastal"],
                "verb + defence/​defense": ["put up", "bolster", "improve"],
                "defence/​defense + noun": ["mechanism"],
                "preposition": ["defence against"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "the organization of the people and systems that are used by a government to protect a country from attack",
            "labels": "(British English)(US English)",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the Ministry of Defence"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the Department of Defense"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Issues of national defence are a matter for the government."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Further cuts in defence spending are being considered."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Few analysts believe the defence budget is likely to increase significantly."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He was the youngest person ever to serve as U.S. Defense Secretary."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Robert McNamara was Secretary of Defense under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The military alliance is the key to Australian foreign and defence policy."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["War and conflict"],
            "collocations": {
                "defence/​defense + noun": ["capability", "establishment", "force"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "something that is said or written in order to support something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a defence of Marxism"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "what is said in court to prove that a person did not commit a crime; the act of presenting this argument in court",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Her defence was that she was somewhere completely different at the time of the crime."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He wanted to conduct his own defence."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The judge rejected her insanity defence."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Opinion and argument", "Law and justice"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["good", "robust", "solid"],
                "verb + defence/​defense": ["conduct", "make", "mount"],
                "defence/​defense + noun": ["attorney", "counsel", "lawyer"],
                "preposition": ["in somebody’s defence", "defence of", "defence to"],
                "phrases": ["counsel for the defence"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "the lawyer or lawyers whose job is to prove in court that a person did not commit a crime",
            "labels": "(US English also)",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The defence is/are requesting more time to prepare its/their case."
                },
                {
                    "text": "the defence lawyer/counsel"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the defense attorney"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a witness for the defence"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Law and justice"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["good", "robust", "solid"],
                "verb + defence/​defense": ["conduct", "make", "mount"],
                "defence/​defense + noun": ["attorney", "counsel", "lawyer"],
                "preposition": ["in somebody’s defence", "defence of", "defence to"],
                "phrases": ["counsel for the defence"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 7,
            "definition": "the players who must prevent the other team from scoring; the position of these players on the sports field",
            "sensetop": "in defenceon defense",
            "labels": "(British English)(North American English)",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Welford cut through the defence to score the winning goal."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She plays in defence.",
                    "contextForm": "in defence"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She plays on defense.",
                    "contextForm": "on defense"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Sports: ball and racket sports"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["good", "solid", "staunch"],
                "verb + defence/​defense": ["play", "put up", "destroy"],
                "preposition": ["in defence", "on defence"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 8,
            "definition": "a contest, game, etc. in which the previous winner or winners compete in order to try to win again",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Barcelona’s defence of the Champions League title"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to try to stop your opponent from scoring",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "What they need is someone who can both score and play defense."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to respond to what others do in order to protect what you already have rather than try to gain more",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "If you believe there will be shocks to the market, wouldn't you want a manager who can play defense?"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/dɪˈfens/",
                "audio": "de/defence/defence__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/dɪˈfens/",
                "audio": "de/defence/defence__us_12.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈdiːfens/",
                "audio": "de/defence/defense__us_3.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Old French defens, from late Latin defensum (neuter), defensa (feminine), past participles of defendere ‘defend’."
}