Guard Definition

gärd
guarded, guarding, guards
verb
guarded, guarding, guards
To watch over (a place or person, for example) in order to keep from being damaged, robbed, or injured.
Guard a bank; guarding a witness.
American Heritage
To supervise the entry and exit through; keep watch at.
Guard a door.
American Heritage
To watch over.
Webster's New World
To keep safe from harm; watch over and protect; defend; shield.
Webster's New World
To cover (a piece of machinery) with a device to protect the operator.
Webster's New World
noun
guards
A person who protects, keeps watch, or acts as a sentinel.
A prison guard.
American Heritage
The act or duty of guarding; careful watch; wariness; defense; protection.
Webster's New World
Protection; watch.
The sheepdog kept guard over the herd.
American Heritage
The arms or weapon in such a posture.
Webster's New World
Something that gives protection; a safeguard.
A guard against tooth decay.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
idiom
off (one's) guard
  • Not alert; unprepared.
American Heritage
on (one's) guard
  • Alert and watchful; cautious.
American Heritage
stand guard
  • To keep watch.
  • To act as a sentinel.
American Heritage
off (one's) guard
  • Not alert; unprepared.
American Heritage
on (one's) guard
  • Alert and watchful; cautious.
American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Guard

Noun

Singular:
guard
Plural:
guards

Origin of Guard

  • For verb: From early Middle French or late Old French (circa 14th cent) guarder (“to keep, ward, guard, save, preserve, etc.”), from Frankish *wardōn (from Proto-Germanic *wardo-), cognate with Old English weardian (from which English to ward). Compare French garder. See also English regard.

    From Wiktionary

  • For noun: From Middle English garde, from early Middle French or late Old French guarde (“a guardian, warden, keeper”) (whence modern French garde), from the verb guarder.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English garden from Old French garder, guarder of Germanic origin wer-3 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English garden from Old French garder, guarder of Germanic origin wer-3 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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