defend.

To ward off attacks against; to fight to protect; to guard. To ward off attacks against (something or someone).

To ward off attacks against; to fight to protect; to guard. To ward off attacks from (something or someone).

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

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

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

Mostly in tests. The action of not putting force into hitting a shot, but to conserve energy and wear down bowlers so they can attack later.

The teams strategy was to defend but score runs as well for the first 20 overs.

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

To call a raise from the big blind.

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

To prevent, to keep (from doing something).

To prohibit, forbid.