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protective

adjective
 
 
/prəˈtek.tɪv/

Definition

B2 giving protection: protective clothing a protective mask and gogglesDefending and protectingBacking, supporting and defendingPreserving and saving C1 wanting 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.Liking protectively
 
 
/-li/ adverb
He put an arm around her shoulder protectively.Defending and protectingBacking, supporting and defendingPreserving and saving
protectiveness
 
 
/-nəs/ noun [U]
Defending and protectingBacking, supporting and defendingPreserving and saving
(Definition of protective adjective from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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