guard

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A person whose job is to protect or watch over a place, person, or thing.

   The guard checked our tickets at the gate.

2. 2
   verb

   To protect someone or something by watching carefully.

   Two soldiers guarded the entrance all night.

3. 3
   verb

   To take care to prevent something bad from happening.

   You should guard against catching a cold in winter.

4. 4
   noun

   A device that covers something to protect a person from harm.

   Always keep the guard on the saw blade when not in use.

Common collocations

• guard dog Adjective + noun

From early Middle French garder or late Old French (circa 14th cent) guarder (“to keep, ward, guard, save, preserve, etc.”), from Early Medieval Latin wardo, from Frankish *wardēn, from Proto-Germanic *wardāną (“to guard, protect”). Cognate with French garder, Old English weardian (whence also the English inherited doublet ward). See also English regard.

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