defensive

Word family  noun defence/defense defendant defender defensiveness adjective defenceless/defenseless defensible ≠ indefensible defensive verb defend adverb defensibly ≠ indefensibly defensively

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Sport

de·fen·sive1 /dɪˈfensɪv/ ●○○ adjective  1  DEFENDused or intended to protect someone or something against attack 防御用的，防御性的 OPP offensive The prince drew up his forces in a strong defensive position. 亲王将部队布成坚固的防御阵势。 The rockets are a purely defensive measure against nuclear attack. 火箭弹纯粹是针对核攻击的防御性措施。2  DEFENDbehaving in a way that shows you think someone is criticizing you even if they are not 戒备的，自卫的，有戒心的 She despised herself for sounding so defensive. 她因自己说的话听起来戒备心过强而自惭形秽。 a reserved and defensive manner 矜持而又戒备的态度3  DS American English relating to stopping the other team from getting points in a game 〔比赛中〕防守的，防御的 OPP offensive defensive play 防守型打法 —defensively adverb —defensiveness noun [uncountable]

Examples from the Corpus

defensive• Police officers claimed that their actions during the riots were purely defensive.• Dave Campo is the Cowboys' third defensive coordinator in four years.• Their success was built upon a resolute defensive display, shutting out 12-goal Dean Saunders.• Rather than getting upset or defensive, I see myself being genuinely interested in her input.• Brackens is the best rusher in the defensive line.• a defensive player• The invention of the tank and the aircraft broke through the defensive stalemate that had characterised the first world war.• Dallas has lost two good players from their defense, cornerback Larry Brown and defensive tackle Russell Maryland.• The city would be encircled by its defensive walls pierced by town gates.• According to the report, only defensive weapons had been supplied to Iran.• defensive weaponsdefensive measure• Other defensive measure have included the long-awaited decision by Sir Rocco Forte to separate his chairman and chief executive jobs.• It was also probably in part a defensive measure on the part of the ego itself.defensive2 noun  1  on/onto the defensive CRITICIZEbehaving in a way that shows that you think that someone is criticizing you even if they are not 处于戒备状态（的），存有戒心（的） In his presence, she was constantly on the defensive. 在他面前她总是步步为营。2  put/force somebody on the defensive if you put someone on the defensive in an argument, you attack them so that they are in a weaker position 迫使某人处于守势 → go on the offensive an issue that put the White House on the defensive 使白宫处于被动的问题

Examples from the Corpus

defensive• But putting news directors on the defensive is by no means a bad thing.• The industry is on the defensive in Congress, in courts across the nation and in the war for public opinion.• There are two reasons why the Government is now on the defensive after last week's protests against high fuel tax.

de·fen·sive1 adjectivedefensive2 nounChineseSyllable  

or protect to Corpus something used someone or intended

defensive

I

de‧fen‧sive¹ /dɪˈfensɪv/ adjective1. used or intended to protect someone or something against attack
   OPP  offensive:
    The prince drew up his forces in a strong defensive position.
    The rockets are a purely defensive measure against nuclear attack.
2. behaving in a way that shows you think someone is criticizing you even if they are not:
    She despised herself for sounding so defensive.
    a reserved and defensive manner
3. American English relating to stopping the other team from getting points in a game
   OPP  offensive:
    defensive play
—defensively adverb
—defensiveness noun [uncountable]

II

defensive² noun
1. on/onto the defensive behaving in a way that shows that you think that someone is criticizing you even if they are not:
    In his presence, she was constantly on the defensive.
2. put/force somebody on the defensive if you put someone on the defensive in an argument, you attack them so that they are in a weaker position ⇨ go on the offensive:
    an issue that put the White House on the defensive