- defence
- (BrE) (AmE defense) noun1 action to protect sb/sth from attackADJECTIVE▪ adequate, effective▪ immune, natural▪
the body's natural defence against viruses
▪ homeland (AmE), national, territorial▪ air▪ civil▪ nuclearVERB + DEFENCE/DEFENSE▪ come to, leap to, rush to, spring to▪He always sprang to Rose's defence when Ed tried to criticize her.
PREPOSITION▪ in defence of▪to fight in defence of your country
▪ defence against▪defence against attacks from the north
PHRASES▪ weapons of defence2 sth that protects sb/sth from sthADJECTIVE▪ effective, strong▪ coastal, sea▪ perimeter (AmE)▪Perimeter defences around airports and government buildings should be strengthened.
▪ anti-missile, missileVERB + DEFENCE/DEFENSE▪ put up▪They put up an effective defence against the guerrilla forces.
▪ bolster, improve, strengthen▪ weaken▪ destroy, overcome, overwhelm▪With her tears she completely overwhelmed his defences.
▪ build, build up, rebuild▪They are building up defences along the river.
▪ breach, penetrate▪The sea breached the coastal defences in a number of spots.
DEFENCE/DEFENSE + NOUN▪ mechanismPREPOSITION▪ defence against3 forces, etc. for protecting a countryDEFENCE/DEFENSE + NOUN▪ capability, establishment, force, forces, system▪ Defense Department, Defense Secretary (in the US)▪ minister, ministry (in the UK)▪ policy, strategy▪ analyst, expert, planner▪ contractor, industry▪ budget, cuts, expenditure, spending4 argument, esp. in courtADJECTIVE▪ good▪ robust, solid, spirited, staunch, stout (BrE), strong, vigorous▪ adequate▪ legal▪ insanity (esp. AmE)▪The judge rejected her insanity defence.
VERB + DEFENCE/DEFENSE▪ conduct, make, mount, offer, put up, raiseDEFENCE/DEFENSE + NOUN▪ attorney (AmE), counsel, lawyer, team▪ witnessPREPOSITION▪ in sb's defence▪She spoke in his defence.
▪ defence of, defence to▪a defence to murder
PHRASES▪ counsel for the defence5 in sportsADJECTIVE▪ good, solid, staunch (esp. BrE), stout (BrE), strongVERB + DEFENCE/DEFENSE▪ play (AmE)▪ put up▪ destroy, penetrate▪ improve, strengthen, upgrade (AmE)PREPOSITION▪ in defence (BrE), on defence (AmE)▪to play in defence
▪He plays on defence.
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
