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¹guard

noun \ˈgärd\

: a state in which someone is carefully looking for possible danger, threats, problems, etc.

: a person whose job or duty is to watch and protect someone or something

: a group of people (such as soldiers) who protect a person or place

Full Definition of GUARD

: one assigned to protect or oversee another: as

a : a person or a body of persons on sentinel duty

b plural : troops attached to the person of the sovereign

c British : conductor b

a : a defensive state or attitude <asked him out when his guard was down>

b : a defensive position (as in boxing)

a : the act or duty of protecting or defending

b : the state of being protected : protection

: a protective or safety device; specifically : a device for protecting a machine part or the operator of a machine

archaic : precaution

a : a position or player next to the center in a football line

b : a player stationed in the backcourt in basketball

— off guard

: in an unprepared or unsuspecting state

— on guard

: defensively watchful : alert

See guard defined for English-language learners

See guard defined for kids

Origin of GUARD

Middle English garde, from Anglo-French garde, guarde, warde, from garder, guarder, warder, to guard, defend, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wartēn to watch, take care — more at ward

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to GUARD

Synonyms: custodian, guardian, keeper, lookout, minder, picket, sentinel, sentry, warden, warder, watch, watcher, watchman

Antonyms: offensive

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

Rhymes with GUARD

bard, barred, card, chard, Dard, fard, hard, lard, nard, pard, sard, shard, yard

²guard

verb

: to watch (someone) in order to prevent escape

: to protect (someone or something) from danger or attack

: to be careful about not telling or talking about (something, such as a secret)

Full Definition of GUARD

transitive verb

: to protect an edge of with an ornamental border

a : to protect from danger especially by watchful attention : make secure <police guarding our cities>

b : to stand at the entrance of as if on guard or as a barrier

c : to tend to carefully : preserve, protect <guarded their privacy>

archaic : escort

a : to watch over so as to prevent escape, disclosure, or indiscretion

b : to attempt to prevent (an opponent) from playing effectively or scoring

intransitive verb

: to watch by way of caution or defense : stand guard

— guard·er noun

See guard defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of GUARD

1500

Related to GUARD

Synonyms: bulwark, cover, fence, fend, forfend, defend, keep, protect, safeguard, screen, secure, shield, ward

Antonyms: assail, assault, attack

Synonym Discussion of GUARD

defend, protect, shield, guard, safeguard mean to keep secure from danger or against attack. defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack <defend the country>. protect implies the use of something (as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure <a hard hat to protect your head>. shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack <shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand>. guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger <White House entrances are well guarded>. safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger <our civil liberties must be safeguarded>.

GUARD Defined for Kids