English Dictionary

Definition of “guard”

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guard (ɡɑːdPronunciation for guard) 

Definitions

verb

  1. to watch over or shield (a person or thing) from danger or harm; protect
  2. to keep watch over (a prisoner or other potentially dangerous person or thing), as to prevent escape
  3. (tr) to control  ⇒ to guard one's tongue 
  4. (intr) against to take precautions
  5. to control entrance and exit through (a gate, door, etc)
  6. (tr) to provide (machinery, etc) with a device to protect the operator
  7. (tr)
    1. chess cards to protect or cover (a chess man or card) with another
    2. curling bowling to protect or cover (a stone or bowl) by placing one's own stone or bowl between it and another player
  8. (tr) archaic to accompany as a guard

noun

  1. a person or group who keeps a protecting, supervising, or restraining watch or control over people, such as prisoners, things, etc custodial
  2. a person or group of people, such as soldiers, who form a ceremonial escort  ⇒ guard of honour 
  3. British the official in charge of a train
    1. the act or duty of protecting, restraining, or supervising
    2. ((as modifier)  ⇒ guard duty 
  5. Irish another word for garda
  6. a device, part, or attachment on an object, such as a weapon or machine tool, designed to protect the user against injury, as on the hilt of a sword or the trigger of a firearm
  7. anything that provides or is intended to provide protection  ⇒ a guard against infection 
    1. another name for safety chain
    2. a long neck chain often holding a chatelaine
  9. See guard ring
  10. sport an article of light tough material worn to protect any of various parts of the body
  11. basketball 
    1. the position of the two players in a team who play furthest from the basket
    2. a player in this position
  12. the posture of defence or readiness in fencing, boxing, cricket, etc
  13. See take guard
  14. See give guard
  15. See off one's guard
  16. See on one's guard
  17. See stand guard
  18. See mount guard

Alternative Forms

ˈguardable adjective ˈguarder noun ˈguardless adjective ˈguardˌlike adjective

Word Origin

C15: from Old French garde,  from garder  to protect, of Germanic origin; compare Spanish guardar; see ward

Translations

  • British English: guard Pronunciation for guard A guard is someone such as a soldier, police officer, or prison officer who is guarding a particular place or person.The prisoners overpowered their guards and locked them in a cell.ɡɑːd NOUN The prisoners overpowered their guards and locked them in a cell.
  • Spanish: guardia Pronunciation for guardia nm
  • French: garde Pronunciation for garde nm
  • German: Wache Pronunciation for Wache nf
  • Chinese: 护卫队Pronunciation for 护卫队 n
  • Arabic: حارِسPronunciation for حارِس n
  • Portuguese: guardaPronunciation for guarda n
  • Russian: охранаPronunciation for охрана nf
  • Croatian: stražarPronunciation for stražar nm
  • Czech: hlídkaPronunciation for hlídka nf
  • Danish: vagtPronunciation for vagt nutr
  • Dutch: bewakerPronunciation for bewaker nm
  • Finnish: vartijaPronunciation for vartija n
  • Greek: φύλακαςPronunciation for φύλακας n
  • Italian: guardiaPronunciation for guardia nf
  • Japanese: 見張りPronunciation for 見張り n
  • Korean: 경호원Pronunciation for 경호원 n
  • Norwegian: vaktPronunciation for vakt nm
  • Polish: strażPronunciation for straż nf
  • Brazilian Portuguese: guardaPronunciation for guarda n
  • European Spanish: guardia Pronunciation for guardia nm
  • Swedish: vaktPronunciation for vakt nutr
  • Thai: ยามPronunciation for ยาม n
  • Turkish: nöbetçiPronunciation for nöbetçi n
  • Vietnamese: lính gácPronunciation for lính gác n
  • British English: guard Pronunciation for guard If you guard a place, person, or object, you watch them carefully, either to protect them or to stop them from escaping.A few men were left outside to guard her.ɡɑːd VERB A few men were left outside to guard her.
  • Spanish: custodiar Pronunciation for custodiar v
  • French: garder Pronunciation for garder vt
  • German: bewachen Pronunciation for bewachen v
  • Chinese: 看守Pronunciation for 看守 v
  • Arabic: يَحْرُسPronunciation for يَحْرُس vt
  • Portuguese: guardarPronunciation for guardar v
  • Russian: охранятьPronunciation for охранять v
  • Croatian: čuvatiPronunciation for čuvati v
  • Czech: strážitPronunciation for strážit v
  • Danish: bevogtePronunciation for bevogte v
  • Dutch: bewakenPronunciation for bewaken v
  • Finnish: vartioidaPronunciation for vartioida v
  • Greek: φυλάωPronunciation for φυλάω v
  • Italian: difenderePronunciation for difendere v
  • Japanese: 見張るPronunciation for 見張る v
  • Korean: 보호하다Pronunciation for 보호하다 v
  • Norwegian: voktePronunciation for vokte v
  • Polish: ochronićPronunciation for ochronić v chronić
  • Brazilian Portuguese: guardarPronunciation for guardar v
  • European Spanish: custodiar Pronunciation for custodiar v
  • Swedish: vaktaPronunciation for vakta v
  • Thai: เฝ้าPronunciation for เฝ้า v
  • Turkish: korumakPronunciation for korumak v
  • Vietnamese: canh gácPronunciation for canh gác v

Usage examples

  • R'shiel waved back a curious guard come to see what all the fuss was about.
    Jennifer Fallon, TREASON KEEP (2001)
  • Field maneuver three: Changing of the guard Mission: To perform a complicated switch of positions, without unhitching of equipment.
    Maxim (2004)
  • His hockey helmet, pants and neck guard are plastered with Senators stickers.
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • Ms Cole has worked part-time as a security guard for about five years.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • The children travelled in the guard 's van, in the care of Mr Harrold Fagg.
    Alexander Games (compiler), THE ESSENTIAL SPIKE MILLIGAN (2002)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'G'

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