protect

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word protect. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word protect, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say protect in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word protect you have here. The definition of the word protect will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofprotect, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Etymology

Attested in English since 1530, from Latin prōtēctus (covered, protected), past participle of prōtegere (to cover the front, protect) from prō, prō- (before, in front of) +‎ tegere (to cover), see tegument. Displaced native Middle English shelden, from Old English sċildan (“to protect,” literally “to shield”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /pɹəˈtɛkt/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛkt

Verb

protect (third-person singular simple present protects, present participle protecting, simple past and past participle protected)

  1. (transitive, intransitive) To keep safe; to defend; to guard; to prevent harm coming to.
    to protect a child from danger
    This antivirus package will protect your computer from hackers.
    Condoms are designed to protect against sexually-transmitted diseases.
    • 2012 March, William E. Carter, Merri Sue Carter, “The British Longitude Act Reconsidered”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 87:
      But was it responsible governance to pass the Longitude Act without other efforts to protect British seamen? Or might it have been subterfuge—a disingenuous attempt to shift attention away from the realities of their life at sea.
  2. (travel, aviation) To book a passenger on a later flight if there is a chance they will not be able to board their earlier reserved flight.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations