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# defend

verb (defend, defends, defended, defending)

«defend» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To defend someone or something is to protect it from attack or harm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defend/#m1)
2. To defend is to speak up in support of someone or an idea. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defend/#m2)
3. In sport to defend is to try to stop the other team scoring. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defend/#m3)

### In the lessons

In history lessons castles had walls, moats and towers to defend them. In science animals defend themselves with spines, shells, stings or camouflage. In PE defenders stop goals. In PSHE pupils learn to defend a friend who is being bullied by telling an adult. Phrases: defend yourself, defend against, defend a goal, defend someone's opinion.

### Examples

- The soldiers defended the castle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defend/#x1)
- A porcupine defends itself with sharp quills. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defend/#x2)
- She defended her friend from the bullies. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defend/#x3)
- Our team defended well in the second half. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defend/#x4)
- He defended his idea in the class debate. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defend/#x5)
- The goalkeeper defends the goal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defend/#x6)
- Mother birds defend their nests. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defend/#x7)
- Pinocchio, although alone, defended himself bravely. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defend/#x8)

### Note

Regular verb (defended). Noun: defence (UK) / defense (US). Person: defender. Opposite: attack. Defending yourself is about being safe — getting away and telling an adult is often the best defence.

## In Jewish tradition

In the Tanakh it often means God protects a city or a person. God promised to defend Jerusalem for David's sake.

**Interpretation.** Tradition reads this promise as showing God's care for David's line and for Jerusalem.

### Examples

- For I will defend this city to save it, for Mine own sake, and for My servant David's sake.' (Prophets 2KI.19.34, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defend/#x1)
- But he stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD wrought a great victory. (Prophets 2SA.23.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defend/#x2)
- And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city. (Prophets ISA.38.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defend/#x3)

### Note

Regular verb (defended). Noun: defence (UK) / defense (US). Person: defender. Opposite: attack. Defending yourself is about being safe — getting away and telling an adult is often the best defence.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «defend» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defend/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«defend» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/defend.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «defend» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/defend/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«defend» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/defend.html) on Mova free.