defensive mechanism

collocation in English

meaningsofdefensiveandmechanism

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withmechanism.
defensive
adjective
uk
/dɪˈfen.sɪv/us
/dɪˈfen.sɪv/
used to protect someone or something ...
See more atdefensive
mechanism
noun[C]
uk
/ˈmek.ə.nɪ.zəm/us
/ˈmek.ə.nɪ.zəm/
a part of a machine, or a set of parts that ...
See more atmechanism

(Definition ofdefensiveandmechanismfrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesofdefensive mechanism

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
This duality evokes fear, which is split off in adefensivemechanism.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Thus, thedefensivemechanismof the easy bleeding against invertebrates is clearly based on the chemistry.
From theCambridge English Corpus
The proposal has now been submitted because the negotiations failed, and the proposeddefensivemechanismmust be evaluated.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
I am pleased that this case has now been supplemented with a proposal for adefensivemechanism.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
The power to detain sub-standard ships is an important power and part of ourdefensivemechanism.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
We talk too much; it is adefensivemechanism; it is so much easier for us to talk than to listen.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
In the meantime, is it not right that the precedent which has been established might be repeated and that nodefensivemechanismis available in the interim?
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
That process must happen as, if we have monetary union, we will lose our presentdefensivemechanism of the manipulation of currencies and the exchange rate.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
He was one of these people who was readily identified as an infant prodigy, and was treated as such; and hisdefensivemechanismwas to become appallingly absent-minded.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
There is adefensivemechanism.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
The sting is used to ingest prey more easily via the gastrovascular cavity, or as adefensivemechanismto evade enemies.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
The spines are modified hairs that act as adefensivemechanism.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
They are adefensivemechanism, they'll dissolve in water, and they are distasteful to most animals who would prey on rhabditid worms.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Another very interesting example of thermoregulation is that of heat being used as adefensivemechanism.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Female alfalfa leafcutter bees have stingers, but both sexes will use their mandibles as adefensivemechanism, usually only defending themselves when squeezed or antagonized.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Tangeritin strengthens the cell wall and acts as a plant'sdefensivemechanismagainst disease-causing pathogens.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Camouflage is a commondefensivemechanismin frogs.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
It is speculated that these tentacles serve both as adefensivemechanismand possibly as a method of capturing prey.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
In the wild it is adefensivemechanismto remove all blood and dead tissue from the nesting area to avoid detection by predators.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Want to learn more?
Go to the definition ofdefensive
Go to the definition ofmechanism
See other collocations withmechanism