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defensa
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defense
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DictionaryExamplesPronunciation
Usage note
This word is often capitalized in the sense shown in 4).
defensa(
deh
-
fehn
-
sah
)
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g. la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
feminine noun
1. (protection)
a. defense
Regionalism used in the United States
(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)
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
Regionalism used in the United States
(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)
La defensa llamó a su primer testigo al estrado.The defence called their first witness to the stand.
3. (sports)
a. defense
Regionalism used in the United States
(United States)
El entrenador puso a cuatro jugadores en la defensa.The coach assigned four players to the defense.
b. defence (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.
A word or phrase restricted in usage to literature or established writing (e.g. sex, once upon a time).
(literary)
(ministry)
a. Defense Department
Regionalism used in the United States
(United States)
Defensa confirmó hoy el ataque contra militares americanos.The attack on US soldiers was confirmed today by the Defense Department.
b. Ministry of Defence (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)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
(Latin America)
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 a fender, so we used old tires.
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of person it refers to (e.g. el doctor, la doctora).
masculine or feminine noun
7. (sports)
a. defender
Los defensas hicieron un gran trabajo, pero los delanteros no lograron marcar.The defenders did a great job, but the forwards didn't manage to score.
defensas
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
plural noun
8. (medicine)
a. defenses
Regionalism used in the United States
(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)
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.
Copyright © Curiosity Media Inc.
defensa
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling or idea (e.g. man, dog, house).
Noun
1. (protección)
a. defense
en defensa dein defense of
la defensa del medio ambientethe protection of the environment
defensa personalself-defense
2. (law)
a.
la defensathe defense
en defensa propia, en legítima defensain self-defense
defensasdefenses
tiene las defensas muy bajashis body's defenses are very low
3. (sports)
a. defense
4. (sports)
a. defender
defensa centralcentral defender, center back
Copyright © 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited
defensa
1 (protección) defence; defense; (EEUU)
la defensa del territorio nacional the defence of national territory; la cueva nos sirvió de defensa contra la lluvia the cave offered us protection from the rain
llevó hasta el final la defensa de sus ideales
en defensa de los derechos civiles in defence of civil rights; salió en defensa de su hermano he came to his brother's defence
los vecinos acudieron en defensa de la víctima
en defensa propia in self-defence; (Ministerio de) Defensa Ministry of Defence; Defense Department; (EEUU)
defensa pasiva civil defence
defensa personal self-defence
defensas costeras coastal defences
2 (Jur) (abogado, argumentación) defence; defense; (EEUU)
la defensa puede interrogar al testigo su abogado hizo una defensa brillantísima
3 (Dep)
la defensa (jugadores) the defence; the defense; (EEUU)
4 defensas (Med) defences; defenses; (EEUU)
está bajo de defensas his (body's) defences are low; his resistance is low
5 defensas [de toro] horns; [de elefante, jabalí] tusks
6 (Náutica) fender
7 (México) bumper; fender; (EEUU)
(Dep) defender
defensa escoba defensa libre sweeper
Collins Complete Spanish Electronic Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
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