Adjective

(en adjective)

Intended for defence; protective.

a defensive perimeter

Intended to deter attack.

a defensive missile system

Performed so as to minimise risk.

defensive driving

Displaying an inordinate sensitivity to criticism.

(cricket) Of a bowling or fielding tactic designed to prevent the other side from scoring runs; of a batting tactic designed to prevent being out.

(sports) Pertaining to defense, as opposed to attack.

* {{quote-news

, year=2011 , date=September 2 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Bulgaria 0-3 England , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=The Italian opted for Bolton's Cahill alongside captain John Terry - and his decision was rewarded with a goal after only 13 minutes. Bulgaria gave a hint of defensive frailties to come when they failed to clear Young's corner, and when Gareth Barry found Cahill in the box he applied the finish past Nikolay Mihaylov.}}

In a state or posture of defense.

(Milton)

Adjective

(er)

Displaying or feeling anger.

*

, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5 , passage=Then we relapsed into a discomfited silence, and wished we were anywhere else. But Miss Thorn relieved the situation by laughing aloud, and with such a hearty enjoyment that instead of getting angry and more mortified we began to laugh ourselves, and instantly felt better.}}

(said about a wound or a rash) Inflamed and painful.

The broken glass left two angry cuts across my arm.

Dark and stormy, menacing.

Angry clouds raced across the sky.

* {{quote-book, 1756, (Christopher Smart), 3= The Book of the Epodes, chapter=Ode II, by=(Horace)

, passage=