Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense guards, present participle guarding, past tense, past participle guarded
1. verb
If you guard a place, person, or object, you stand near them in order to watch and protect them.
Gunmen guarded homes near the cemetery with shotguns. [VERB noun]
...the heavily guarded courtroom. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: protect, watch, defend, secure More Synonyms of guard
2. verb
If you guard someone, you watch them and keep them in a particular place to stop them from escaping.
Marines with rifles guarded them. [VERB noun]
He is being guarded by a platoon of police. [beVERB-ed + by]
Synonyms: watch over, watch, oversee, supervise More Synonyms of guard
3. countable noun
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.
Synonyms: sentry, warder, warden, custodian More Synonyms of guard
4. singular noun [with singular or plural verb]
A guard is a specially organized group of people, such as soldiers or police officers, who protect or watch someoneor something.
We have a security guard around the whole area.
A heavily armed guard of police have sealed off the city centre.
5. countable noun
On a train, a guard is a person whose job is to travel on the train in order to help passengers, check tickets, and make sure that the train travels safely and on time.
[British]regional note: in AM, use conductor
6. verb
If you guard some information or advantage that you have, you try to protect it or keep it for yourself.
He closely guarded her identity. [VERB noun]
...a threat to the country's jealously guarded unity. [VERB-ed]
7. countable noun
A guard is a protective device which covers a part of someone's body or a dangerous part of a piece of equipment.
...the chin guard of my helmet.
A blade guard is fitted to protect the operator.
8. countable noun
Some regiments in the British Army, or the soldiers in them, are referred to as Guards.
...the Grenadier Guards.
9. See also guarded, bodyguard, coastguard, lifeguard, old guard
10.
See catch someone off guard
11.
See lower/drop your guard, let your guard down
12.
See mount guard
13.
See on your guard
14.
See on guard
15.
See stand guard
16.
See under guard
Phrasal verbs:
See guard against
More Synonyms of guard
guard in British English
(ɡɑːd)
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. (transitive)
to control
to guard one's tongue
4. (intransitive; usually foll byagainst)
to take precautions
5.
to control entrance and exit through (a gate, door, etc)
6. (transitive)
to provide (machinery, etc) with a device to protect the operator
7. (transitive)
a. chess, cards
to protect or cover (a chess man or card) with another
b. curling, bowling
to protect or cover (a stone or bowl) by placing one's own stone or bowl between it and another player
8. (transitive) archaic
to accompany as a guard
noun
9.
a person or group that keeps a protecting, supervising, or restraining watch or control over people, such as prisoners, things, etc
▶ Related adjective: custodial
10.
a person or group of people, such as soldiers, who form a ceremonial escort
guard of honour
11. British
the official in charge of a train
12.
a.
the act or duty of protecting, restraining, or supervising
b.
(as modifier)
guard duty
13. Irish another word for garda
14.
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
15.
anything that provides or is intended to provide protection
a guard against infection
16.
a. another name for safety chain
b.
a long neck chain often holding a chatelaine
17. guard ring
18. sport
an article of light tough material worn to protect any of various parts of the body
19. basketball
a.
the position of the two players in a team who play furthest from the basket
b.
a player in this position
20.
the posture of defence or readiness in fencing, boxing, cricket, etc
21. give guard
22. mount guard
23. off one's guard
24. on one's guard
25. stand guard
26. take guard
Derived forms
guardable (ˈguardable)
adjective
guarder (ˈguarder)
noun
guardless (ˈguardless)
adjective
guardlike (ˈguardˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C15: from Old French garde, from garder to protect, of Germanic origin; compare Spanish guardar; see ward
guard in American English
(gɑrd)
verb transitive
1.
to keep safe from harm; watch over and protect; defend; shield
2.
to watch over
; specif.,
a.
to keep from escape or trouble
b.
to hold in check; control; restrain
c. Sport
to keep (an opponent) from making a gain or scoring; also, to cover (a goal or area) in defensive play
d.
to supervise entrances and exits through (a door, gate, etc.)
3.
to cover (a piece of machinery) with a device to protect the operator
4. Archaic
to escort
verb intransitive
5.
to keep watch; take precautions (against)
6.
to act as a guard
noun
7.
the act or duty of guarding; careful watch; wariness; defense; protection
8.
a.
a posture of alert readiness for defense, as in boxing, fencing, etc.
b.
the arms or weapon in such a posture
9.
any device that protects against injury or loss
; specif.,
a.
the part of the handle of a sword, knife, or fork that protects the hand
b.
a chain or cord attached to a watch, bracelet, etc. to protect against loss
c.
a ring worn to keep a more valuable ring from slipping off the finger
d.
a safety device, as in machinery
e.
an article worn to protect a part of the body, as in a sport
a catcher's shin guards
10.
a person or group that guards
; specif.,
a.
a sentinel or sentry
b.
a railway brakeman or gatekeeper
c. British
a railroad conductor
d.
a person who guards prisoners
e. [pl.]
a special unit of troops assigned to the British royal household
f.
a military unit with a special ceremonial function
a color guard
11. US, Basketball
either of two players who are the main ball handlers and offensive leaders positioned at the rear of the court on offense
see also point guard
12. US, American Football
either of two players on offense at the left and the right of the center whose purpose is blocking
see also nose guard
Idioms:
mount guard
off (one's) guard
on (one's) guard
stand guard
Derived forms
guarder (ˈguarder)
noun
Word origin
ME garde < OFr garder, to protect < Gmc *wardon (> Ger warten, to wait) < IE base *wer-, to heed > ware2, L vereri, to fear
Prisoners and guards often share meals and play sports together.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The museum is heavily guarded and all visitors have to pass through metal detectors.
The Sun (2009)
They took him to the airport under armed guard.
Jonathan Gregson BLOOD AGAINST THE SNOWS: The Tragic Story of Nepal's Royal Dynasty (2002)
The security guards checked each individual into the room.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Sometimes she wore her soccer shin guards long after practice was over.
Christianity Today (2000)
The scale of the rewards is normally a closely guarded secret.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Two of his friends will form a guard of honour.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Stunned gallery visitors watched as guards grabbed him until cops arrived to arrest him.
The Sun (2013)
We used to take planes like we take trains and our guard was down.
The Sun (2009)
The honeymoon destination remains a closely guarded secret.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We need to keep our guard up.
The Sun (2011)
But guard positions that need to be manned are manned.
The Sun (2007)
Two mall security guards loomed outside a wide glass sliding door.
Ben Nimmo IN FORKBEARD'S WAKE: Coasting Round Scandinavia (2003)
Official projections last night suggested that the old guard had won the day.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Often the rear guard did not get into camp until long after dark.
Henderson, Diana M The Scottish Regiments (1993)
Prison guards are unwittingly passing on coded information in what appear to be innocent messages from criminals to their relatives.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The owner of the property simply wanted a guard dog on duty 24 hours a day.
Jan Fennell, Foreword by Monty Roberts THE DOG LISTENER: Learning the Language of your Best Friend (2002)
The villagers mounted a night-time guard for ten days running to scare the robbers off.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Army nurses on operational duty may have to help to set up a field hospital in Afghanistan or do guard duty at their camp.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The Scots Guards were to play a distinguished part in this most unusual campaign.
Henderson, Diana M The Scottish Regiments (1993)
Word lists with
guard
fencing
In other languages
guard
British English: guard /ɡɑːd/ NOUN
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.
American English: guard
Arabic: حارِس
Brazilian Portuguese: guarda
Chinese: 护卫队
Croatian: stražar
Czech: hlídka
Danish: vagt
Dutch: bewaker
European Spanish: guardia
Finnish: vartija
French: garde
German: Wache
Greek: φύλακας
Italian: guardia
Japanese: 見張り
Korean: 경호원
Norwegian: vakt
Polish: straż
European Portuguese: guarda
Romanian: gardian
Russian: охрана
Latin American Spanish: guardia
Swedish: vakt
Thai: ยาม
Turkish: nöbetçi
Ukrainian: охорона
Vietnamese: lính gác
British English: guard /ɡɑːd/ VERB
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.
American English: guard
Arabic: يَحْرُس
Brazilian Portuguese: guardar
Chinese: 看守
Croatian: čuvati
Czech: strážit
Danish: bevogte
Dutch: bewaken
European Spanish: custodiar
Finnish: vartioida
French: garder protéger
German: bewachen
Greek: φυλάω
Italian: difendere
Japanese: 見張る
Korean: 보호하다
Norwegian: vokte
Polish: ochronić
European Portuguese: guardar
Romanian: a păzi
Russian: охранять
Latin American Spanish: custodiar
Swedish: vakta
Thai: เฝ้า
Turkish: korumak
Ukrainian: охороняти
Vietnamese: canh gác
All related terms of 'guard'
dog guard
a metal frame used in a car to contain pet dogs
guard dog
A guard dog is a fierce dog that has been specially trained to protect a particular place.
off-guard
If someone is caught off-guard , they are not expecting a surprise or danger that suddenly occurs.
old guard
If you refer to a group of people as the old guard , you mean that they have worked in a particular organization for a very long time and are unwilling to accept new ideas or practices .
on guard
If someone is on guard , they are on duty and responsible for guarding a particular place or person.
Red Guard
a member of a Chinese youth movement that attempted to effect the Cultural Revolution (1965–71)
armed guard
a guard who is carrying a gun
coast guard
a governmental force employed to defend a nation's coasts , prevent smuggling , aid vessels in distress , maintain lighthouses , etc.
color guard
the persons carrying and escorting the colors ( flag ) in a parade , ceremony , etc.
face guard
a guard used to protect a player's face
give guard
(of an umpire ) to indicate the batsman's position relative to the stumps
guard band
a space left vacant between two radio frequency bands , or between two tracks on a magnetic tape recording , to avoid mutual interference
guard cell
one of a pair of crescent-shaped cells that surround a pore ( stoma ) in the epidermis . Changes in the turgidity of the cells cause the opening and closing of the stoma
guard duty
the work of guarding a place or person
guard hair
any of the coarse hairs that form the outer fur in certain mammals , rising above the underfur
guard ring
an extra ring worn to prevent another from slipping off the finger
Home Guard
a volunteer part-time military force recruited for the defence of the United Kingdom in World War II
honor guard
An honor guard is a group of troops who formally greet or accompany someone special such as a visiting head of state.
Horse Guard
a special cavalry brigade assigned to the British royal household
Iron Guard
a Romanian fascist party that ceased to exist after World War II
mount guard
If you mount guard or if you mount a guard , you organize people to watch or protect a person or place.
nose guard
the defensive lineman whose position in a three-man or five-man line is directly opposite the offensive center
point guard
the position of the player responsible for directing the team's attacking play
rear guard
a military detachment to protect the rear of a main force or body
shin guard
a piece of tough protective clothing that you wear to cover your lower legs in some sports, such as football , ice hockey , baseball or rugby
stand guard
If you stand guard , you stand near a particular person or place because you are responsible for watching or protecting them.
Swiss Guard
the bodyguard of the pope , recruited from Swiss nationals
take guard
(of a batsman ) to choose a position in front of the wicket to receive the bowling , esp by requesting the umpire to indicate his or her position relative to the stumps
under guard
If someone is under guard , they are being guarded.
watch guard
a short chain, cord , or ribbon for securing a watch when worn on the person
advance guard
a military unit sent ahead of a main body to find gaps in enemy defences , clear away minor opposition , and prevent unexpected contact
border guard
a guard stationed on a border between countries
cattle guard
A cattle guard is the same as a → cattle grid .
colour guard
a military guard in a parade , ceremony , etc, that carries and escorts the flag or regimental colours
guard against
If you guard against something, you are careful to prevent it from happening , or to avoid being affected by it.
honour guard
→ another name for guard of honour
middle guard
→ nose guard
prison guard
an officer in charge of prisoners in a jail
provost guard
(esp in the US) a detachment under command of the provost marshal
splash guard
a mudguard
trigger guard
a loop round a trigger , which prevents the gun being fired accidentally
crossing guard
→ school (crossing) guard
guard's van
The guard's van of a train is a small carriage or part of a carriage in which the guard travels.
National Guard
In the United States , the National Guard is a military force within an individual state, which can become part of the national army if there is a war or emergency .
Securicor guard
a guard who works for Securicor
security guard
A security guard is someone whose job is to protect a building or to collect and deliver large amounts of money.
shooting guard
the player responsible for attempting long-range shots
Varangian Guard
→ the Varangian Guard
corporal's guard
a squad commanded by a corporal
off your guard
not prepared for something when it happens so that you do not react normally