A Quick and Simple Dictionary

defend

1. Verb.  (transitive, obsolete) To ward off, repel (an attack or attacker).
2. Verb.  (transitive, obsolete) To prevent, to keep (from doing something).
3. Verb.  (transitive, intransitive) To prohibit, forbid.
4. Verb.  (transitive) To ward off attacks from; to fight to protect; to guard.
5. Verb.  (transitive) To support by words or writing; to vindicate, talk in favour of.
6. Verb.  (transitive, legal) To make legal defence of; to represent (the accused).
7. Verb.  (sports) To focus one's energies and talents on preventing opponents from scoring, as opposed to focusing on scoring.
8. Verb.  (sports) To attempt to retain a title, or attempt to reach the same stage in a competition as one did in the previous edition of that competition.
9. Verb.  (poker slang) To call a raise from the big blind.