guard

Plural: guards

Noun

• a person who keeps watch over something or someone
• the person who plays that position on a football team
  • "the left guard was injured on the play"
• a device designed to prevent injury or accidents
• a posture of defence in boxing or fencing
  • "keep your guard up"
• the person who plays the position of guard on a basketball team
• a military unit serving to protect some place or person
• a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.
  • "an insurance policy is a good safeguard"
  • "we let our guard down"
• the duty of serving as a sentry
  • "he was on guard that night"
• (American football) a position on the line of scrimmage
  • "guards must be good blockers"
• a position on a basketball team
• A person who, or thing that, protects or watches over something.
• A garda; a police officer.
• A squad responsible for protecting something.
• A squad responsible for protecting something.
• An elite military unit in Russia, the former Soviet Union and several post-Soviet countries.
• The part of a sword that protects the wielder's hand.
• A part of a machine which blocks access to dangerous parts.
• A watchchain.
• A panel of a car that encloses the wheel area, especially the front wheels.
• A state of caution; posture of defence.
• Something worn to protect part of the body, e.g. the shins in cricket.
• A relatively short player, playing farther from the basket than a forward or centre.
• The position on the popping crease where a batsman makes a mark to align himself with the wicket; see take guard.
• Either of two offensive positions between the centre and each of the offensive tackles, whose main responsibilities are to protect the quarterback, and open up "holes" through which offensive players can run.
• A ground grappling position in which one combatant has their back to the ground while attempting to control the other combatant using their legs.
• A player playing a position named guard.
• An employee, normally travelling in the last vehicle of a train, responsible for the safety of the train.
• A Boolean expression that must evaluate to true for a branch of program execution to continue.
• The aircraft emergency frequency, a radio frequency reserved for emergency communications, typically 121.5MHz for civilian use.

Verb

Verb Forms: guarded, guarding, guards

• To protect from harm or danger; to keep watch over.
• to keep watch over
  • "there would be men guarding the horses"
• watch over or shield from danger or harm; protect
  • "guard my possessions while I'm away"
• protect against a challenge or attack
• take precautions in order to avoid some unwanted consequence
  • "guard against becoming too friendly with the staff"
  • "guard against infection"
• To protect from danger; to secure against surprise, attack, or injury; to keep in safety; to defend.
• To keep watch over, in order to prevent escape or restrain from acts of violence, or the like.
• To watch by way of caution or defense; to be cautious; to be in a state or position of defense or safety.
• To protect the edge of, especially with an ornamental border; hence, to face or ornament with lists, laces, etc.
• To fasten by binding; to gird.

Examples

• Careful people guard against mistakes.
• Guard the prisoner.
• She decided to GUARD the open triple-word score, preventing her opponent from using it.
• The motorcycle mechanic removed the damaged chain guard.
• The president inspected the guard of honour.
• The prison guard unlocked the door of the cell. After completing the repairs, he replaced the sump guard.

Synonyms

defend, guard duty, hold, precaution, safeguard, safety, safety device, sentry duty, sentry go, ward, crossguard, fender, protection, quillon, quillon#Noun

Anagrams of guard