What does DEFENCE mean?

noun

1. (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
2. (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring“his teams are always good on defense”
3. the defendant and his legal advisors collectively“the defense called for a mistrial”
4. an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack“he joined the defense against invasion”
5. the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions“his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive”
6. the justification for some act or belief“he offered a persuasive defense of the theory”
7. a structure used to defend against attack“the artillery battered down the defenses”
8. a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him“he gave evidence for the defense”