defend

verb12

1. •
   to try to keep someone or something safe from an attack
2. •
   To ward off attacks against; to fight to protect; to guard.
3. •
   To support by words or writing; to vindicate, talk in favour of.

   • Justice Elena Kagan on Thursday defended the code of conduct the Supreme Court created last year, but conceded there needs to be a way to enforce the rules for it to be more effective. — 2024
4. •
   To make legal defence of; to represent (the accused).

   • Philip Miles, defending, said: "This was a single instance, there was no allegation of continuing behaviour over a long period of time." — 2011
5. •
   To ward off attacks from (something or someone).
6. •
   To attempt to retain a title, or attempt to reach the same stage in a competition as one did in the previous instance of that competition.
7. •
   To focus one's energies and talents on preventing opponents from scoring, as opposed to focusing on scoring.
8. •
   Mostly in tests. The action of not putting force into hitting a shot, but to conserve energy and wear down bowlers so they can attack later.

   • The teams strategy was to defend but score runs as well for the first 20 overs.
9. •
   (slang) To call a raise from the big blind.
10. •
    (no longer used) To ward off, repel (an attack or attacker).

    • The vertue is, that neither steele, nor stone The stroke thereof from entrance may defend[…]. — 1590
11. •
    (no longer used) To prevent, to keep (from doing something).
12. •
    (no longer used) To prohibit, forbid.