English Online Dictionary. What means protect? What does protect mean?
English
Etymology
Attested in English since 1530, from Latin prōtēctus (“covered, protected”), past participle of prōtegere (“to cover the front, protect”) from prō, prō- (“before, in front of”) + tegere (“to cover”), see tegument. Displaced native Middle English shelden, from Old English sċildan (“to protect,” literally “to shield”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /pɹəˈtɛkt/
- Rhymes: -ɛkt
Verb
protect (third-person singular simple present protects, present participle protecting, simple past and past participle protected)
- (ambitransitive) To keep safe; to defend; to guard; to prevent harm coming to.
- (travel, aviation) To book a passenger on a later flight if there is a chance they will not be able to board their earlier reserved flight.
Synonyms
- shield
- beshield
- See also Thesaurus:defend