defense system
44
3.9
- noun
- /dɪˈfɛns ˈsɪstəm/
- Specialized
:
sistema de defensa
- The military installed a new defense system to protect the base from aerial attacks.
- missile defense system
- air defense system
- ballistic missile defense system
And Valley said we need it right for this new early warning defense system.
- And Valley said we need it right for this new early warning defense system.
- Tanks, planes, bombs, Patriot missile defense systems, the latest and greatest stuff.
Examples
-
Without warning at 12:53 this afternoon, Washington time, our nation's space defense system began to intercept incoming missiles.
Fiction book (2000) -
Warsaw has expressed interest in the possible deployment of a missile defense system on its soil.
Academic text (2006) -
Watch out, the defense system is still active.
-
The electronic defense system was turned off.
-
The surveillance program is a critical part of our national defense system.
-
I mean, we were creating a defense system that was supposed to save people's lives.
-
The next U.S. president must also press ahead with building a national missile defense system.
Academic text (2007) -
There is no air defense system capable of functioning properly without an adequate command and control system.
Academic text (2015) -
NATO tried to design a national defense system, but the Libyans failed to engage.
Academic text (2017) -
The Iron Dome missile defense systems have withstood their greatest test to date.
Academic text (2015)
Synonyms
460
1.4
Protection from attack, danger, harm, or illness
23
3.4
A group or system that protects people from danger and loss
9
3.6
A group of machines and tools used together by the military to attack or defend
9
4.1
A group of weapons designed to work together for military use
How Strong
- Specialized
44
3.9
- US
1
6.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a system of weapons and related technology designed to protect a region' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'defense' (protection from attack) with 'system' (a collection of interacting components). This noun–noun compounding follows regular English composition and is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
The name defense system comes from the image of many parts working like guards around a castle, with walls, towers and soldiers stopping attackers. So defense, meaning guards, plus system, meaning a group of parts, shows why a defense system is a set of tools and weapons put together 'to protect' a place.