Search results for 'guard':

guard verb (guarded, guarding) 1 to protect someone or something from danger or attack. 2 to watch over someone in order to prevent their escape. 3 to control or check • guard your tongue. 4 to control passage through (eg a doorway). 5 tr & intr, curling, bowls to protect a stone or bowl by placing another in the line of a potential attack. noun 1 a person or group whose job is to provide protection, eg from danger or attack, or to prevent escape. 2 Brit a person in charge of a railway train. 3 a state of readiness to give protection or prevent escape • keep guard. 4 boxing, cricket, etc a defensive posture. 5 basketball, Amer football, etc a defensive player or their position. 6 especially in compounds anything that gives protection from or to something • fireguard • shinguard. 7 the act or duty of protecting. 8 (often Guard) a soldier in any of certain army regiments originally formed to protect the sovereign. mount guard to go on sentry duty. mount guard over someone or something to protect or defend them or it. off guard or off one's guard not on the alert; unwary about what one says or does • caught you off guard. on guard 1 on sentry duty. 2 (also on one's guard) on the alert; wary about what one says or does • be on your guard against thieves. stand guard to act as a guard or sentry.
ETYMOLOGY: 15c: from French garder to protect.