PROTECT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does protect mean? 

• PROTECT (verb)
  The verb PROTECT has 2 senses:

1. shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage

2. use tariffs to favor domestic industry

  Familiarity information: PROTECT used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PROTECT (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they protect    ... he / she / it protects   
Past simple: protected   
Past participle: protected   
-ing form: protecting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Context example:

Weatherbeater protects your roof from the rain

Hypernyms (to "protect" is one way to...):

defend (be on the defensive; act against an attack)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "protect"):

fence; fence in; palisade; surround; wall (surround with a wall in order to fortify)

keep; preserve (maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger)

cover (to take an action to protect against future problems)

insure (take out insurance for)

body guard (accompany and protect from physical harm)

mothproof (protect from moths)

cover (be responsible for guarding an opponent in a game)

cover (protect or defend (a position in a game))

safeguard (make safe)

cover for (provide an excuse or alibi for someone so as to cover up guilt)

charm (protect through supernatural powers or charms)

screen; shield (protect, hide, or conceal from danger or harm)

defend; guard; hold (protect against a challenge or attack)

guard; ward (watch over or shield from danger or harm; protect)

cover (hold within range of an aimed firearm)

look out (to protect someone's interests)

overprotect (protect excessively)

immunise; immunize (law: grant immunity from prosecution)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

protection (the activity of protecting someone or something)

protection (a covering that is intend to protect from damage or injury)

protective (intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind)

protector (a person who cares for persons or property)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Use tariffs to favor domestic industry

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "protect" is one way to...):

assist (act as an assistant in a subordinate or supportive function)

Domain category:

trade (the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

protection (the imposition of duties or quotas on imports in order to protect domestic industry against foreign competition)

protective (intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind)

 Context examples 

On the upside, you have Jupiter, the giver of gifts and luck, in this same eighth house of other people’s money, which will staunchly protect your interests in the end.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

These genes help protect the cell from damage caused by free radicals (unstable molecules made during normal cell metabolism).

(NFE2L2, NCI Dictionary)

The use of drugs to protect nerve cells from damage by cancer therapy agents.

(Neuroprotection, NCI Thesaurus)

Autophagy may prevent normal cells from developing into cancer cells, but it may also protect cancer cells by destroying anticancer drugs or substances taken up by them.

(Autophagy, NCI Dictionary)

Jip can protect me a great deal better than Miss Murdstone,—can't you, Jip, dear?

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

They might attack, however, if they feel threatened, are sick, or are protecting their young or territory.

(Animal Bites, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Besides, Dorothy will need someone to protect her.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

It was only the tame that the gods protected, and between the tame deadly strife was not permitted.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The three thin layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord.

(Meninges, NCI Dictionary)

She is grieved to lose Lucy as her very own, but she is rejoiced that she is soon to have some one to protect her.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)