noun
The action of defending or protecting from attack, danger, or injury.
Anything employed to oppose attack(s).
An argument in support or justification of something.
(government, military, euphemistic) Government policy or (infra)structure related to the military.
(obsolete) A prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance.
verb
(sports, chiefly US) To employ defensive tactics (so as to block).
verb
(now rare) To furnish with defenses; to defend, protect.