protect
verb /prəˈtekt/Definition
B1 [I or T] to keep someone or something safe from injury, damage, or loss: clothing that protects you against the cold It's important to protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun. Surely the function of the law is to protect everyone's rights. Of course the company will act to protect its financial interests in the country if war begins. Patients' names have been changed to protect their privacy. Public pressure to protect the environment is strong and growing. Vitamin C may help protect against cancer.Defending and protectingBacking, supporting and defendingPreserving and saving › [T] If a government protects a part of its country's trade or industry, it helps it by taxing goods from other countries.Investing moneyTaxationEconomics and the state of the economy › [T] to provide someone with insurance against injury, damages, etc.Insurance protected /-ˈtek.tɪd/ adjective › This dolphin is a protected species (= it is illegal to harm or kill them).Protection and protectorsEnvironmental issuesEnvironmental issuesRubbish and wasteProtection and protectors
(Definition of protect verb from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
Browse the Thesaurus
SMART Thesaurus
Synonyms and related words:
- -proof suffix
- baby verb
- bastion noun
- buffer verb (PROVIDE PROTECTION)
- cherish verb
- coddle verb (PROTECT)
- cosset verb
- featherbed verb
- guard noun (PERSON WHO PROTECTS)
- guard verb (WATCH)
- mother verb
- out of harm's way idiom
- overprotective adjective
- patrol verb
- proof adjective (PROTECTED)
- protective adjective
- secure verb (PROTECT)
- watch your back idiom
- wet-nurse verb
- wrap sb (up) in cotton wool idiom
Topic:
Defending and protecting
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Word of the Day
throw sb together
If two people are thrown together, they meet each other in a way that was not planned, or events...
Blog
Read our blog about how the English language behaves.
New Words
Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.
