protect
[pruh-tekt]
- 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.).
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- to provide, or be capable of providing, protection: a floor wax that protects as well as shines.
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Origin of protect
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comSynonym study
1. See defend.
Antonyms
1. attack.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
guardedguaranteedshelteredsecuredpreserveddisguisedshadedharboredfosteredcherishedensconcedimmunesafeExamples from the Web for protected
Contemporary Examples
The story of a mother, her son, the police who protected them, and the peaceful protest that brought them all together.
The Wildly Peaceful, Human, Almost Boring, Ultimately Great New York City Protests for Eric GarnerMike Barnicle
December 8, 2014
Just another golden treasure hidden somewhere in the great unknown, waiting to be discovered, plundered and protected.
And when there are transgressions, the perpetrators should be brought to justice, not protected.
Perhaps more importantly, she protected and elevated causes and voices—diverse voices—that would have otherwise never been heard.
The Valerie Jarrett I Know: How She Saved the Obama Campaign and Why She’s IndispensableJoshua DuBois
November 18, 2014
The Fish and Wildlife officer told him that it was illegal to possess a protected species or a raptor.
Historical Examples
This we also burnt with fire, after we had protected the fresh flint by plastering it with clay.
The Trail BookMary Austin
Umra Khan protected him and determined to turn him to his own advantage.
The Story of the Malakand Field ForceSir Winston S. Churchill
While Rima is with us, so long as we are on her business, we are protected from above.
Green MansionsW. H. Hudson
He's taking the trouble to make the approach with protected riflemen.
The Rock of ChickamaugaJoseph A. Altsheler
As if it was not a favour to be protected from the lamp-iron!
A Tale of Two CitiesCharles Dickens
protect
- 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)
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for protected
protect
v.
mid-15c., from Latin protectus, past participle of protegere "to protect, cover in front" (see protection). International economics sense from 1789. Related: Protected; protecting.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper