fend off

== English == === Etymology === fend + off === Pronunciation === === Verb === fend off (third-person singular simple present fends off, present participle fending off, simple past and past participle fended off) To defend against; to repel with force or effort Synonyms: turn away, drive away, ward off (nautical) To prevent (a vessel) from running against anything with too much violence. ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== hold off