defend v
1. argue or speak in defense of; "She supported the motion to strike" [syn: support, fend for]
2. be on the defensive; act against an attack [ant: attack]
3. protect against a challenge or attack; "Hold that position behind the trees!"; "Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks" [syn: guard, hold]
4. fight against or resist strongly; "The senator said he would oppose the bill"; "Don't fight it!" [syn: fight, oppose, fight back, fight down]
5. protect or fight for as a champion [syn: champion]
6. be the defense counsel for someone in a trial; "Ms. Smith will represent the defendant" [syn: represent] [ant: prosecute]
7. state or assert; "He maintained his innocence" [syn: maintain]

Defend \De*fend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defended; p. pr. & vb. n. Defending.] [F. d['e]fendre, L. defendere; de- + fendere (only in comp.) to strike; perh. akin to Gr. ? to strike, and E. dint. Cf. Dint, Defense, Fend.]
1. To ward or fend off; to drive back or away; to repel. [A Latinism & Obs.] Th' other strove for to defend The force of Vulcan with his might and main. --Spenser.
2. To prohibit; to forbid. [Obs.] --Chaucer. Which God defend that I should wring from him. --Shak. 
3. To repel danger or harm from; to protect; to secure against; attack; to maintain against force or argument; to uphold; to guard; as, to defend a town; to defend a cause; to defend character; to defend the absent; -- sometimes followed by from or against; as, to defend one's self from, or against, one's enemies. The lord mayor craves aid . . . to defend the city. --Shak. God defend the right! --Shak. A village near it was defended by the river. --Clarendon.
4. (Law.) To deny the right of the plaintiff in regard to

Defense or defence is protecting something from attack.

A country's government may form an army a navy and/or an air force to protect the country and its people from attacks. The army, navy, and air force can also be used to attack other countries. A country can also use the military to kill or arrest people, or members of groups, from other countries who have hurt or killed their own citizens.

In these groups, people are specially trained to use weapons such as rifles and artillery, that can be used to kill other soldiers and destroy their equipment. Together, these groups form a country's military. Some governments, like the United States' government, spend large amounts of money every year to buy and keep weapons and to pay people to defend their countries. These trained people are called soldiers.

• President Obama uses JPMorgan loss to defend Wall Street regulations - Boston Herald
  WASHINGTON - Aiming squarely at Republican critics of Wall Street reform, President Barack Obama said Saturday that investment bank JPMorgan’s stunning $2-billion loss serves as a reminder of the importance of Washington’s role in preventing ... Read more on this news related to 'Defend'
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  The lawyer who advised the Harrisburg School District on its decision to fire three top administrators will have to defend himself against legal malpractice claims after the district was sued by its ex-administrators, a federal judge has ruled. U.S ... Read more on this news related to 'Defend'
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