defend

To ward off attacks against; to fight to protect; to guard.

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.

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.