word-vault

{ "term": "defend", "partOfSpeech": "verb", "ox3000": true, "cefr": "b2", "verbForms": { "presentSimple": { "iYouWeThey": "defend", "heSheIt": "defends" }, "pastSimple": "defended", "pastParticiple": "defended", "ingForm": "defending" }, "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to protect somebody/something from attack", "sensetop": "defend somebody/somethingdefend somebody/something against somebody/somethingdefend somebody/something from somebody/somethingdefend yourself (from/against somebody/something)defend against somebody/something", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "The role of the military is to defend the country.", "contextForm": "defend somebody/something" }, { "text": "Troops have been sent to defend the borders." }, { "text": "The male birds defend their territory against other males.", "contextForm": "defend somebody/something against somebody/something" }, { "text": "The cannons once defended the city from attack by sea.", "contextForm": "defend somebody/something from somebody/something" }, { "text": "All our officers are trained to defend themselves against knife attacks.", "contextForm": "defend yourself (from/against somebody/something)" }, { "text": "It is impossible to defend against an all-out attack.", "contextForm": "defend against somebody/something" }, { "text": "She successfully defended herself against an attack from someone larger and stronger." }, { "text": "The city was heavily defended against attack." }, { "text": "They attacked the left flank, which was only lightly defended." }, { "text": "The international community should step into defend the powerless." } ], "topics": ["War and conflict"], "collocations": { "adverb": ["adequately", "effectively", "properly"], "preposition": ["against"] } }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "to protect something that you value and prevent it from being taken away", "sensetop": "defend something", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "The organization works to defend human rights wherever they are threatened." }, { "text": "Freedom must always be defended." }, { "text": "The ruling class will always defend its own interests." }, { "text": "People must be vigilant in defending civil liberties regardless of external threats." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "to say or write something in support of somebody/something that has been criticized", "sensetop": "defend somebody/something against somebody/somethingdefend somebody/something from somebody/somethingdefend yourself (from/against somebody/something)", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "They defended their decision to pull out of the event." }, { "text": "The minister **vigorously defended** the policy." }, { "text": "How can you defend such behaviour?" }, { "text": "I realized I couldn't logically defend my position." }, { "text": "The article seeks to defend him against charges of hypocrisy.", "contextForm": "defend somebody/something against somebody/something" }, { "text": "Her colleagues united in defending her from further personal attacks.", "contextForm": "defend somebody/something from somebody/something" }, { "text": "Politicians are skilled at defending themselves against their critics.", "contextForm": "defend yourself (from/against somebody/something)" }, { "text": "The company has strenuously defended its decision to reduce the workforce." }, { "text": "She was quick to defend her husband's actions." }, { "text": "She defended her department against accusations of incompetence." }, { "text": "I will strenuously defend your right to say what you think." } ], "topics": ["Opinion and argument"], "collocations": { "adverb": ["actively", "aggressively", "fiercely"], "preposition": ["against"] } }, { "senseNumber": 4, "definition": "to protect your own goal to stop your opponents from scoring", "sensetop": "defend something", "cefr": "c1", "examples": [ { "text": "They were forced to defend for long periods." }, { "text": "Moody and Moran defended their goal well.", "contextForm": "defend something" } ], "topics": ["Sports: ball and racket sports"], "collocations": { "adverb": ["adequately", "effectively", "properly"], "preposition": ["against"] } }, { "senseNumber": 5, "definition": "to take part in a competition that you won the last time and try to win it again", "sensetop": "defend something", "labels": "(politics)", "examples": [ { "text": "He is **defending champion**." }, { "text": "She will be **defending her title** at next month's championships." }, { "text": "The champion **successfully defended** his title against the American challenger." }, { "text": "He intends to defend his seat in the next election." } ], "collocations": { "adverb": ["successfully"], "preposition": ["against"] } }, { "senseNumber": 6, "definition": "to act as a lawyer for somebody who has been charged with a crime", "sensetop": "defend (somebody)defend yourself", "cefr": "b2", "examples": [ { "text": "He has employed one of the UK's top lawyers to defend him.", "contextForm": "defend (somebody)" }, { "text": "Who's defending?" }, { "text": "Smith has announced that she will defend herself in the case.", "contextForm": "defend yourself" } ], "topics": ["Law and justice"] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/dɪˈfend/", "audio": "de/defend/defend__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/dɪˈfendz/", "audio": "de/defend/defends__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/dɪˈfendɪd/", "audio": "de/defend/defended__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/dɪˈfendɪŋ/", "audio": "de/defend/defending__gb_1.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/dɪˈfend/", "audio": "de/defend/defend__us_4.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/dɪˈfendz/", "audio": "de/defend/defends__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/dɪˈfendɪd/", "audio": "de/defend/defended__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/dɪˈfendɪŋ/", "audio": "de/defend/defending__us_1.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Old French defendre, from Latin defendere, from de- ‘off’ + -fendere ‘to strike’. Compare with offend." }