to protect more than necessary, esp to shield (a child) excessively so as to inhibit its development
Derived forms
overprotective (ˌoverproˈtective)
adjective
overprotect in American English
(ˌoʊvərprəˈtɛkt)
verb transitive
to protect more than is necessary or desirable; specif., to exercise excessive, damaging control over (one's child, etc.) in seeking to shield from hurt, conflict, disappointment, etc.