- 1[transitive, intransitive] to make sure that someone or something is not harmed, injured, damaged, etc. protect somebody/something/yourself (against/from something) Troops have been sent to protect aid workers against attack. They huddled together to protect themselves from the wind. Our aim is to protect the jobs of our members. Each company is fighting to protect its own commercial interests. protect (against/from something) a paint that helps protect against rust
- 2[transitive, usually passive] protect something to introduce laws that make it illegal to kill, harm, or damage a particular animal, area of land, building, etc. a protected area/species The plant is protected under state law.
- 3[transitive, usually passive] protect something to help an industry in your own country by taxing goods from other countries so that there is less competition protected markets
- 4[transitive, intransitive] protect (somebody/something) (against something) to provide someone or something with insurance against fire, injury, damage, etc. Many policies do not protect you against personal injury.
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NAmE//prəˈtɛkt//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they protect he / she / it protects
past simple protected
-ing form protecting
Check pronunciation: protect