defensa
- Dictionary
USAGE NOTE
This word is often capitalized in the sense shown in 4).
la defensa(
deh
-
fehn
-
sah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (protection)
a. defense (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Gregorio se alistó en el ejército para luchar en defensa de su nación.Gregorio joined the army to fight in defense of his nation.
b. defence (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Mis amigos acudieron en mi defensa cuando el borracho me quiso pegar.My friends came to my defence when the drunkard tried to punch me.
c. protection
Un cortafuegos sirve de defensa contra los virus y los hackers.A firewall offers protection against viruses and hackers.
2. (legal)
a. defense (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
La defensa presentó pruebas de que Pérez se encontraba en otra ciudad cuando ocurrió el homicidio.The defense presented evidence that Perez was in another city at the time of the murder.
b. defence (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
La defensa llamó a su primer testigo al estrado.The defence called their first witness to the stand.
3. (sports)
a. defense (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
El entrenador puso a cuatro jugadores en la defensa.The coach put four players on defense.
b. defence (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
El delantero penetró en la defensa y anotó el primer gol del partido.The forward penetrated the defence and scored the first goal of the match.
4. (politics)
a. Department of Defense (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Defensa confirmó hoy el ataque contra militares americanos.The attack on US soldiers was confirmed today by the Department of Defense.
b. Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Defensa sufrió los mayores recortes en el último presupuesto nacional.The Ministry of Defence suffered the biggest cuts in the last budget.
5. (automobile) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. bumper
Choqué el coche contra un poste. Por suerte, solo se dañó la defensa.I drove my car into a post. Fortunately, only the bumper got damaged.
6. (nautical)
a. fender
El bote no tenía defensas, así que usamos llantas viejas.The boat didn't have fenders, so we used old tires.
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
las defensas
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
8. (medicine)
a. defenses (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
El estrés y una alimentación pobre hacen que bajen las defensas.Stress and poor dietary habits cause defenses to be lowered.
b. defences (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Martina se resfrió porque tenía las defensas bajas.Martina caught a cold because her defences were low.
9. (anatomy)
a. horns (of a bull, a buffalo or a deer)
El toro le ensartó una de sus defensas al torero en la pierna izquierda.The bull inserted one of his horns into the torero's left leg.
b. tusks (of an elephant, a walrus or a boar)
El elefante corneó a la leona con sus defensas.The elephant gored the lioness with his tusks.
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