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Refuge vs Defence - What's the difference?

refuge | defence |

As nouns the difference between refuge and defence

is that refuge is a state of safety, protection or shelter while defence is the action of defending, of protecting from attack, danger or injury.

As verbs the difference between refuge and defence

is that refuge is to return to a place of shelter while defence is (obsolete|transitive) to furnish with defences; to fortify.

refuge

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A state of safety, protection or shelter.
  • * Milton
    • Rocks, dens, and caves! But I in none of these / Find place or refuge .
  • A place providing safety, protection or shelter.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=One morning I had been driven to the precarious refuge afforded by the steps of the inn, after rejecting offers from the Celebrity to join him in a variety of amusements. But even here I was not free from interruption, for he was seated on a horse-block below me, playing with a fox terrier.}}
  • Something or someone turned to for safety or assistance; a recourse or resort.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=December 21, author=Helen Pidd, work=the Guardian
    • , title= Europeans migrate south as continent drifts deeper into crisis , passage=Since its conception, the European Union has been a haven for those seeking refuge from war, persecution and poverty in other parts of the world.}}
  • An expedient to secure protection or defence.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Their latest refuge / Was to send him.

    Synonyms

    * haven * sanctuary * zoar

    Derived terms

    * refugee * refugium

    Verb

    (refug)
  • To return to a place of shelter.
  • * 2011 , Michael D. Gumert, ?Agustín Fuentes, ?Lisa Jones-Engel, Monkeys on the Edge
    • Among these macaques, although activity cycles are quite variable from location to location, refuging is a common characteristic.
  • (obsolete) To shelter; to protect.
    • ----

    defence

    English

    Alternative forms

    * defense (US )

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The action of defending, of protecting from attack, danger or injury.
  • * Shakespeare
    • In cases of defence 'tis best to weigh / The enemy more mighty than he seems.
  • Something used to oppose attack(s).
  • * 1592—1609 , , Sonnet XII:
    • And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defence
    Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.
  • An argument in support or justification of something.
  • * 1592—1609 , , Sonnet LXXXIX:
    • Speak of my lameness, and I straight will halt,
    Against thy reasons making no defence .
  • A strategy and tactics employed to prevent the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence.
  • The portion of a team dedicated to preventing the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence.
  • Government policy or (infra)structure related to the military.
    • Department of Defence
  • Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance.
  • * Sir W. Temple
    • Severe defences against wearing any linen under a certain breadth.

    Synonyms

    * See

    Antonyms

    * offence (Commonwealth), offense (US)

    Derived terms

    * antidefence, antidefense * ecodefence, ecodefense * Nuremberg defence, Nuremberg defense * defensive * defensiveness

    Verb

    (defenc)
  • (obsolete) To furnish with defences; to fortify.
  • * Hales:
    • Better manned and more strongly defenced .