  We consider Lagrangians in 3+1 dimensions admitting topological defects where
there is an additional coupling between the defect scalar field $\Phi$ and the
gauge field kinetic term (eg $B(\vert \Phi \vert^2) F_{\mu \nu}F^{\mu \nu}$).
Such a {\it dilatonic} coupling in the context of a static defect, induces a
spatially dependent effective gauge charge and effective mass for the scalar
field which leads to modified properties of the defect core. In particular, the
scale of the core gets modified while the stability properties of the
corresponding embedded defects are also affected. These modifications are
illustrated for gauged (Nielsen-Olesen) vortices and for gauged ('t
Hooft-Polyakov) monopoles. The corresponding dilatonic global defects are also
studied in the presence of an external gauge field.
