Tra từ defensive - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

de·fen·sive adjective, noun BrE [dɪˈfensɪv] NAmE [dɪˈfensɪv]
adjective
1. protecting sb/sth against attack
•a defensive measure
•Troops took up a defensive position around the town.
compare ↑offensive
2. behaving in a way that shows that you feel that people are criticizing you
•Don't ask him about his plans— he just gets defensive.
3. (sport)connected with trying to prevent the other team or player from scoring points or goals
•defensive play
compare ↑offensive

Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French défensif, -ive, from medieval Latin defensivus, from Latin defens- ‘warded off’, from the verb defendere, from de- ‘off’ + -fendere ‘to strike’.

Example Bank:
•He is extremely defensive about his work.
•Her manner was oddly defensive, as he hadn't intended any criticism at all.
•These are purely defensive measures.
•Whenever anyone mentions women's rights, he gets rather defensive.
•a largely defensive campaign
•As a defensive measure he built a series of coastal forts and watchtowers.
•Troops are taking up a defensive position around the town.
Idiom: ↑on the defensive
Derived Words: ↑defensively ▪ ↑defensiveness

noun

Word Origin:
[defensive defensively defensiveness] late Middle English: from Old French défensif, -ive, from medieval Latin defensivus, from Latin defens- ‘warded off’, from the verb defendere, from de- ‘off’ + -fendere ‘to strike’.