guard /gärd/ transitive verb- To keep watch over
- To take care of
- To protect from danger or attack
- To control passage through (a doorway, etc)
- In any of several games, to make a move to protect (a piece, etc)
- To escort (archaic)
- To protect the edge of, as by an ornamental border
- To provide with guards
- To trim (lit and figurative; Shakespeare)
intransitive verb- To watch
- To be wary
- To take precautions
noun- Keeping safe
- Protection
- Watch
- That which guards from danger
- A person or contingent stationed to keep watch, protect, or keep in custody
- A person in charge of a railway train or, formerly, a stagecoach
- A state of caution
- A posture of defence
- Either of two players positioned away from the basket (basketball)
- A lineman positioned immediately to the left or right of the center (American football)
- This position
- The position of a batsman's bat relative to the wicket when standing ready to receive a ball (cricket)
- A part of a sword hilt
- A watch chain
- A cricketer's or other sportsperson's protective pad or shield
- (in a book) a strip for attachment of a plate, map or additional leaf
- A trimming, or a stripe (obsolete)
- (in pl) household troops (Foot, Horse, and Life Guards)
ORIGIN: OFr garder, from OHGer warten; OE weardian, Mod Eng ward guardˈable adjective guardˈage noun (Shakespeare) Wardship guardˈant or gardˈant adjective (heraldry) Having the face turned towards the viewer noun (Shakespeare)Protector guardˈed adjective - Wary
- Cautious
- Uttered with caution
- Trimmed, or striped (obsolete)
guardˈedly adverb guardˈedness noun guardeeˈ noun (informal) A guardsman, esp in reference to elegant or dashing appearance guardˈless adjective - Without a guard
- Defenceless
guardˈ-book noun A blank book with guards guard cell noun (botany) One of the lips of a stoma, a pair of specialized epidermal cells guard dog noun A watchdog guard hair noun One of the long coarse hairs which form the outer fur of certain mammals guardˈhouse noun A building for the accommodation of a military guard, and where prisoners are confined guard of honour see under honour guardˈrail noun - A rail (on a ship, train, etc, or beside a road) acting as a safety barrier
- An additional rail fitted to a railway track to improve a train's stability
guard ring noun A keeper, or finger-ring that serves to keep another from slipping off guardˈroom noun A room having the same function as a guardhouse guardˈ-ship or guardˈship noun - A ship of war that superintends marine affairs in a harbour and protects it
- Guardianship (archaic; Swift)
guardsˈman or guardsˈwoman noun A soldier of the Guards, or (US) National Guard guard's van noun (on a railway train) the van in which the guard travels mount guard To go on guard on (or off) guard or one's guard - On (or not on) the alert for possible danger
- Wary (or unwary) about what one says or does
run the guard To get past a guard or sentinel without detection stand guard To keep watch, act as sentry |