defend against

n (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires n (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring n the defendant and his legal advisors collectively n an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack n the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions n the justification for some act or belief n a structure used to defend against attack n a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him n (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies n protection from harm n the act of defending someone or something against attack or injury