Word family noun protection protector protectionism protectionist protectiveness protectorate adjective protected ≠ unprotected protective protectionist verb protect adverb protectively
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishprotectpro‧tect /prəˈtekt/ ●●● S2 W2 verb 1 [intransitive, transitive]PROTECT to keep someone or something safe from harm, damage, or illness → protection, protective Are we doing enough to protect the environment?protect somebody/something from something The cover protects the machine from dust.protect somebody/something against something Physical exercise can protect you against heart disease.protect against something Waxing your car will help protect against rust.2 [transitive] if an insurance company protects your home, car, life etc, it agrees to pay you money if things are stolen or damaged or you are hurt or killed SYN cover Unemployment insurance means that you are partially protected if you lose your job.Grammar Protect is usually passive in this meaning.3 PE[transitive] to help the industry and trade of your own country by taxing or restricting foreign goodsTHESAURUSprotect to keep someone or something safe from harm, damage, or illnessDon’t worry, I’ll protect you.The government wants to protect the environment.Eating healthily helps to protect against many diseases.give/offer/provide protection to protect someone from something harmfulWearing a hat offers some protection from the sun.The drug can give protection against cancer.The law provides no protection.guard to protect a person, place, or object by staying near them and watching themPolice officers guarded the entrance to the building.He is guarded by armed men. save to protect someone or something when they are in danger of being harmed or destroyedLocal people are fighting to save the theatre from demolition.Emergency aid could save millions of people who are threatened with starvation.preserve to keep something, especially buildings or the environment, from being harmed, destroyed, or changed too muchThe organization works to preserve forests.There is little money for preserving historic buildings.safeguard to protect something important, such as people’s rights, interests, jobs, health etcThe deal will safeguard 200 jobs at the factory.Laws should do more to safeguard the rights of victims.shield to put something in front of something else to protect it. Also used to talk about protecting people from unpleasant situationsHe lifted his hand to shield his eyes from the light.They thought the public should be shielded from the truth.shelter to provide a place where someone or something is protected from the weather or from dangerThe village is sheltered by a belt of trees.His family had sheltered Jews during the war.harbour British English, harbor American English to help and protect someone who has done something illegal, and prevent the police from finding themHe is accused of harbouring suspected terrorists. → See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
protect• The painting is protected by thick glass.• A company can protect information of this kind only so long as it is confidential to the business and not in the public domain.• The law does not adequately protect older people from abuse.• Garlic was once thought to protect people against evil spirits.• laws to protect the environment• But Parsons protects the special nature of science through a distinction of levels of selection.• A series of meetings were held to discuss security issues and teach women employees how to protect themselves.• It was just that I wanted, foolishly, to protect you from the unpleasantnesses of life.• They were out to get you and I protected you.• Use high-factor sun lotion to protect your child's skin from the sun.• It will protect your pet from injury and the possibility of getting loose if you are in an accident.protect against something• Waxing your car will help protect against rust.From Longman Business Dictionaryprotectpro‧tect /prəˈtekt/ verb [transitive]1to keep someone or something safe from harm, damage, bad influences etclaws protecting the rights of disabled peopleP&G wants to protect its $180 million investment by obtaining a 10-year extension of three patents.protect somebody/something from somethingThe cover protects the machine from dust.protect (somebody/something) againstThe wage index system protects workers against inflation.2ECONOMICSto try to help an industry in your own country by taxing foreign goods that are competing with it, so limiting the number that can be importedFor decades, the Mexican government protected its domestic growers by regulating corn imports.3INSURANCEto provide insurance against damage to your home, car, etcHaving unemployment insurance means that you are partially protected if you lose your job. —protected adjective [only before a noun]Global banking has changed from being aprotected industry to a deregulated one.Tight import quotas in five protected markets will be gradually reduced.→ See Verb tableOrigin protect (1400-1500) Latin past participle of protegere, from tegere “to cover” 