First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
protect
verb pro·tect \prə-ˈtekt\
: to keep (someone or something) from being harmed, lost, etc.
: to save (someone) from financial loss caused by fire, injury, damage, etc.
sports : to try to stop opponents from scoring at (your goal)
Full Definition of PROTECT
transitive verb
1
2
: to maintain the status or integrity of especially through financial or legal guarantees: as a : to save from contingent financial loss b : to foster or shield from infringement or restriction <salesmen with protected territories> <protect one's rights>; specifically : to restrict competition for (as domestic industries) by means of tariffs or trade controls
3
: defend 5 <protect a lead>
intransitive verb
: to provide a guard or shield <protects against tooth decay>
— pro·tect·able \-ˈtek-tə-bəl\ adjective
— pro·tec·tive \-ˈtek-tiv\ adjective
— pro·tec·tive·ly adverb
— pro·tec·tive·ness noun
See protect defined for English-language learners
See protect defined for kids
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Origin of PROTECT
Related to PROTECT
Synonym Discussion of PROTECT
defend, protect, shield, guard, safeguard mean to keep secure from danger or against attack. defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack <defend the country>. protect implies the use of something (as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure <a hard hat to protect your head>. shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack <shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand>. guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger <White House entrances are well guarded>. safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger <our civil liberties must be safeguarded>.
Rhymes with PROTECT
abject, advect, affect, aspect, bisect, cathect, collect, confect, connect, convect, correct, cowl-necked, defect, deflect, deject, detect, direct, Dordrecht, effect, eject, elect, erect, ewe-necked, expect, goosenecked, infect, inflect, inject, insect, inspect, neglect, object, pandect, porrect, prefect, prelect, project, prospect, refect, reflect, reject, resect, respect, ring-necked, roll-necked, select, stiff-necked, subject, suspect, traject, transect, trisect, Utrecht, V-necked
PROTECT Defined for Kids
protect
verb pro·tect \prə-ˈtekt\
pro·tect·edpro·tect·ing
Definition of PROTECT for Kids
: keep from being harmed especially by covering or shielding : guard
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