defensive
释义
Used or intended to protect against attack.
防御的，防守的
Quick to defend oneself against criticism; anxious and over-sensitive.
（对批评）过于敏感的，戒备的
A position or attitude of defense (chiefly in 'on the defensive').
守势（主要用于 on the defensive）
词根拆分
词根派生de-（离开）+ fens（击打）+ -ive（倾向于）= 「倾向于把攻击挡回去的」。军事义（防御工事）延伸到性格：一个 defensive 的人把任何批评都当成攻击，立刻竖起防线。它是 offensive 的镜像——挡回去 vs 打出去。
词根 fens 还连着 8 个词常用搭配
- 1.defensive position防守立场
- 2.go on the defensive转入守势
- 3.defensive mechanism防御机制
- 4.defensive player防守队员
- 5.get defensive变得戒备
例句
- 1.
The team switched to a defensive strategy in the second half.
球队下半场改用防守策略。
- 2.
Don't get so defensive — I'm just offering some feedback.
别这么戒备——我只是给点反馈而已。
- 3.
When questioned about the delay, he became very defensive.
被问到延误的事时，他变得非常敏感戒备。
- 4.
The army was forced onto the defensive after the surprise attack.
遭到突袭后，军队被迫转入守势。
易混词辨析
defensive 与 offensive：同根，方向相反。defensive 挡住打过来的一击（防御工事、戒备的回答）。offensive 把一击打出去（发起进攻、冒犯的言论）。在保护 → defensive；在出击或冒犯 → offensive。