defensive en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- audio Queensland
- /dɪˈfɛn.sɪv/ (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- (Texas) audio
- /dɪˈfen.sɪv/ (Australia)
- /dəˈfen.səv/ (New-Zealand)
Etymology
From Middle French défensif. Morphologically defense + -ive.
Meanings
-
Intended for defence; protective.
a defensive perimeter
-
Intended to deter attack.
a defensive missile system
-
Performed so as to minimise risk.
defensive driving
- Displaying an inordinate sensitivity to criticism or intrusion; oversensitive; thin-skinned.
- Of a bowling or fielding tactic designed to prevent the other side from scoring runs; of a batting tactic designed to prevent being out.
-
Pertaining to defense, as opposed to attack.
The victim held up his hand to repel the attacker and received a defensive knife wound.
The Italian opted for Bolton's Cahill alongside captain John Terry - and his decision was rewarded with a goal after only 13 minutes. Bulgaria gave a hint of defensive frailties to come when they failed to clear Young's corner, and when Gareth Barry found Cahill in the box he applied the finish past Nikolay Mihaylov.
2011 September 2, Phil McNulty, “Bulgaria 0-3 England”, in BBC:
-
In a state or posture of defense.
[…]Once join'd, the contrary ſhe proves, a thorn Inteſtin, far within defenſive arms[…]
1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, pages 63–64, lines 48–49:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more defensive | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most defensive | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Deriveds
defensive halfback · defensive line of scrimmage · defensive zone · self-defensive · defensive design · defensive back · defensive line · defensive end · defensive spiral · defensively · nondefensive · defensive midfielder · indefensive · cyberdefensive · defensiveness · defensive medicine · defensive tackle · defensive field · defensive indifference · counterdefensive · overdefensive · defensive wound · defensive copying · defensive copy · defensive lineman · immunodefensive · defensive programming · offensive and defensive alliance · hyperdefensive · undefensive
Translations (59)
fr defendant (intended for defence; protective) · hy պաշտպանական (intended for defence; protective) · la defendēns (intended for defence; protective) · fi defensiivinen (performed so as to minimise risk) · el αμυντικός (intended for defence; protective) · fi puolustuskannalla (in a state or posture of defense) · la defensīvus (intended for defence; protective) · es defensivo (intended for defence; protective) · cs obranný (intended for defence; protective) · la defensāns (intended for defence; protective) · nl defensief (intended for defence; protective) · ca que defend (intended for defence; protective) · it difensivo (intended for defence; protective) · pl defensywny (intended for defence; protective) · de verletzlich (displaying an inordinate sensitivity to criticism; cf. thin-skinned) · ca defenent (intended for defence; protective) · gl defensivo (intended for defence; protective) · uk оборо́нний (intended for defence; protective) · nl beschermend (intended for defence; protective) · io defensiva (intended for defence; protective) · de zurückhaltend (performed so as to minimise risk) · be ахо́ўны (intended for defence; protective) · fi ennakoiva (performed so as to minimise risk) · hu védekező (intended for defence; protective) · pl obronny (intended for defence; protective) · fi puolustusta varten (intended for defence; protective) · fi ehkäisevä (performed so as to minimise risk) · ru защи́тный (intended for defence; protective) · fi herkkähipiäinen (displaying an inordinate sensitivity to criticism; cf. thin-skinned) · pt defensivo (intended for defence; protective) · it difendente (intended for defence; protective) · be абаро́нны (intended for defence; protective) · fi puolustus- (intended to deter attack) · bg защитен (intended for defence; protective) · de Verteidigungs- (intended for defence; protective) · fi puolustusta varten (intended to deter attack) · bg отбранителен (intended for defence; protective) · ca defensant (intended for defence; protective) · it che difende (intended for defence; protective) · de Abwehr- (in a state or posture of defense) · de Abwehr- (intended for defence; protective) · pt que defensa (intended for defence; protective) · fi puolustus- (intended for defence; protective) · fi puolustuskannalla (displaying an inordinate sensitivity to criticism; cf. thin-skinned) · de defensiv (performed so as to minimise risk) · hu védelmi (intended for defence; protective) · fi varovainen (performed so as to minimise risk) · es que defensa (intended for defence; protective) · pt defensante (intended for defence; protective) · de abwehrend (displaying an inordinate sensitivity to criticism; cf. thin-skinned) · fr défensif (intended for defence; protective) · ru оборони́тельный (intended for defence; protective) · es defensante (intended for defence; protective) · ca que defensa (intended for defence; protective) · de Abwehr- (intended to deter attack) · ro defensiv (intended for defence; protective) · hu defenzív (intended for defence; protective) · ca defensiu (intended for defence; protective) · uk захисни́й (intended for defence; protective)