- to keep safe from harm or danger; protect; watch over: to guard the ruler.
- to keep under close watch in order to prevent escape, misconduct, etc.: to guard a prisoner.
- to keep under control or restraint as a matter of caution or prudence: to guard one's temper.
- to provide or equip with some safeguard or protective appliance, as to prevent loss, injury, etc.
- to position oneself so as to obstruct or impede the movement or progress of (an opponent on offense): The linebacker moved to his right to guard the end going out for a pass.
- to protect (a piece or a square) by placing a piece in a supportive or defensive position relative to it.
- to take precautions (usually followed by against): to guard against errors.
- to give protection; keep watch; be watchful.
- a person or group of persons that guards, protects, or keeps a protective or restraining watch.
- a person who keeps watch over prisoners or others under restraint.
- a body of people, especially soldiers, charged with guarding a place from disturbance, theft, fire, etc.
- a close watch, as over a prisoner or other person under restraint: to be kept under guard.
- a device, appliance, or attachment that prevents injury, loss, etc.
- something intended or serving to guard or protect; safeguard: insurance as a guard against disasters.
- a posture of defense or readiness, as in fencing, boxing, or bayonet drill.
- Football.
- either of the linemen stationed between a tackle and the center.
- the position played by this lineman.
- either of the players stationed in the backcourt.
- a piece that supports or defends another.
- a low card that is held with a high card of the same suit and that enables the holder to save the high card for a later trick.
- a railroad conductor.
- the name of certain bodies of troops in the British army.
- unprepared; unwary: The blow from behind caught him off guard.
- vigilant; wary: on guard against dishonest merchants.
- to watch over; protect: The dog stood guard over his wounded master.
- to watch over or shield (a person or thing) from danger or harm; protect
- to keep watch over (a prisoner or other potentially dangerous person or thing), as to prevent escape
- to control
- to take precautions
- to control entrance and exit through (a gate, door, etc)
- to provide (machinery, etc) with a device to protect the operator
- (tr)
- to protect or cover (a chess man or card) with another
- to protect or cover (a stone or bowl) by placing one's own stone or bowl between it and another player
- to accompany as a guard
- a person or group who keeps a protecting, supervising, or restraining watch or control over people, such as prisoners, things, etc
- a person or group of people, such as soldiers, who form a ceremonial escort
- the official in charge of a train
- the act or duty of protecting, restraining, or supervising
- (as modifier)
- Irish another word for garda
- a device, part, or attachment on an object, such as a weapon or machine tool, designed to protect the user against injury, as on the hilt of a sword or the trigger of a firearm
- anything that provides or is intended to provide protection
- another name for safety chain
- a long neck chain often holding a chatelaine
- See guard ring
- an article of light tough material worn to protect any of various parts of the body
- basketball
- the position of the two players in a team who play furthest from the basket
- a player in this position
- the posture of defence or readiness in fencing, boxing, cricket, etc
- (of a batsman) to choose a position in front of the wicket to receive the bowling, esp by requesting the umpire to indicate his position relative to the stumps
- (of an umpire) to indicate such a position to a batsman
- having one's defences down; unprepared
- prepared to face danger, difficulties, etc
- (of a military sentry, etc) to keep watch
- mount guard
- (of a sentry) to begin to keep watch
- to take up a protective or defensive stance (over something)