1.(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
2.(sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring;
his teams are always good on defense
3.the defendant and his legal advisors collectively;
the defense called for a mistrial
4.an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack;
he joined the defense against invasion
5.the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions;
his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive
6.the justification for some act or belief;
he offered a persuasive defense of the theory
7.a structure used for defense;
the artillery battered down the defenses
8.a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him;
he gave evidence for the defense
9.military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies;
they died in the defense of Stalingrad
10. protection from harm;
sanitation is the best defense against disease