B2giving protection: protective clothinga protective mask and gogglesDefending and protectingBacking, supporting and defendingPreserving and savingC1wanting to protect someone from criticism, hurt, danger, etc. because you like them very much: It's easy to be too protective towards/of your children.She's fiercely protective of the man she married 29 years ago.Likingprotectively
/-li/adverb›He put an arm around her shoulder protectively.Defending and protectingBacking, supporting and defendingPreserving and savingprotectiveness
/-nəs/noun[U]Defending and protectingBacking, supporting and defendingPreserving and saving