This word is acceptable for play in the US & UK dictionaries that are being used in the following games:

• Lexulous
• Wordscraper
• Wordosaur

v. To make or keep safe from danger, attack, or harm.

v. Sports To attempt to prevent the opposition from scoring while playing in or near (a goal or area of a field, for example).

v. Sports To be responsible for guarding (an opposing player).

v. Sports To compete against a challenger in an attempt to retain (a championship).

v. To support or maintain, as by argument or action; justify.

v. Law To represent (a defendant) in a civil or criminal action.

v. Law To attempt to disprove or invalidate (an action or claim).

verb-intransitive. To make a defense.

verb-intransitive. Sports To play defense.

v. To ward off, repel (an attack or attacker).

v. To prevent, to keep (from doing something).

v. To prohibit, forbid.

v. To ward off attacks from; to fight to protect; to guard.

v. To support by words or writing; to vindicate, talk in favour of.

v. To make legal defence of; to represent (the accused).

v. To focus one's energies and talents on preventing opponents from scoring, as opposed to focusing on scoring.

v. To attempt to retain a title, or attempt to reach the same stage in a competition as one did in the previous edition of that competition.

v. To call a raise from the big blind.

v. To ward or fend off; to drive back or away; to repel.

v. To prohibit; to forbid.

v. To repel danger or harm from; to protect; to secure against attack; to maintain against force or argument; to uphold; to guard; ; -- sometimes followed by from or against.

v. To deny the right of the plaintiff in regard to (the suit, or the wrong charged); to oppose or resist, as a claim at law; to contest, as a suit.

To drive off or away; thrust back; fend or ward off; repel.

To forbid; prohibit; forefend.

To ward off attack from; guard against assault or injury; shield: as, to defend a fortress.

To vindicate; uphold; maintain by force, argument, or evidence: as, to defend one's rights and privileges; to defend a cause or claim at law.

Synonyms Protect, Shelter, etc. (see keep), guard, shield. Maintain, Vindicate, etc. See assert.

In law, to make opposition; enter or make defense: as, the party comes into court, defends, and says.

v. protect or fight for as a champion

v. be the defense counsel for someone in a trial

v. protect against a challenge or attack

v. argue or speak in defense of

v. fight against or resist strongly

v. be on the defensive; act against an attack

v. state or assert

"Though Bush publicly denounced the leak, an unnamed Republican aide on Capitol Hill told the New York Times that the underlying White House strategy was to “slime and defend, ” that is to “slime” Wilson and “defend” Bush."

attack   

defended    defending    defends   

plump for    support    back    endorse    plunk for    indorse    protect   

protect   

defense    defence    defender    defensive   

protect    prohibit    forbid    uphold    guard    oppose   

End    Friend    Mende    Wend    abend    amend    append    apprehend    ascend    attend   

classify    daytrading    baptistry    examine    over-sanguine    determinist    offersa    half-bred    verywell    acertain