DEFINITIONS
The
2019 WORD
OF THE YEAR is...

protect

[ pruh-tekt ]
/ prəˈtɛkt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR protect ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to defend or guard from attack, invasion, loss, annoyance, insult, etc.; cover or shield from injury or danger.
Economics. to guard (the industry or an industry of a nation) from foreign competition by imposing import duties.
to provide funds for the payment of (a draft, note, etc.).

verb (used without object)

to provide, or be capable of providing, protection: a floor wax that protects as well as shines.

Words related to protect

preserve, safeguard, shield, shelter, defend, cover, insulate, conserve, assure, secure, cushion, save, support, keep, fend, champion, bulwark, harbor, screen, watch

Words nearby protect

protean, proteas, protease, protease inhibitor, protease inhibitors, protect, protectant, protected sex, protectee, protecter, protecting

Origin of protect

1520–30; < Latin prōtēctus, past participle of prōtegere to cover in front, equivalent to prō- pro-1 + teg-, stem of tegere to cover (akin to toga, thatch) + -tus past participle suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM protect

synonym study for protect

1. See defend.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for protect

British Dictionary definitions for protect

protect
/ (prəˈtɛkt) /

verb (tr)

to defend from trouble, harm, attack, etc
economics to assist (domestic industries) by the imposition of protective tariffs on imports
commerce to provide funds in advance to guarantee payment of (a note, draft, etc)

Word Origin for protect

C16: from Latin prōtegere to cover before, from pro- 1 + tegere to cover
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012