Meaning of protect In English

• 0 to keep someone or something safe from injury, damage, or loss:

  • clothing that protects you against the cold

  • It's important to protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun.

  • Surely the function of the law is to protect everyone's rights.

  • Of course the company will act to protect its financial interests in the country if war begins.

  • Patients' names have been changed to protect their privacy.

  • Public pressure to protect the environment is strong and growing.

  • Vitamin C may help protect against cancer.

• 1 to keep someone or something safe from injury, damage, or loss:

  • He says he was protecting his home and family.

  • A citizens’ group worked to protect forest areas.

• 2 to keep someone or something safe from injury, damage, or loss:

  • protect sb/sth from sth They produce a self-adhesive plastic cover designed to protect CDs from scratches.

  • protect sb/sth against sth The company has been ordered to take corrective action to protect consumers against high-pressure sales tactics.

  • protect against sth The investment does not insure profits or protect against losses in a declining market.

  • protect sb's interests/investments/rights The agreement obliges WTO Members to protect the rights, including copyrights and trademarks, of citizens of all other Members.

  • This material is protected by copyright.

• 3 if a government protects part of its country's trade or industry, it helps it by taxing goods from other countries or limiting the amount of goods that can be imported:

  • Import barriers protected the fledgling enterprises.

  • a protected industry/market

• 4 to provide someone with insurance against injury, damage, or loss:

  • Workers should take out insurance, whether to cover themselves against a particular illness or to protect their income.

  • protect against sth Life annuities protect against the risk of people outliving their savings.