guard (n.)

  1. a person who keeps watch over something or someone

  2. a position on a basketball team

  3. the person who plays that position on a football team; the left guard was injured on the play'

  4. a device designed to prevent injury or accidents

    [ Syn: safety , safety device ]

  5. a posture of defence in boxing or fencing; keep your guard up'

  6. the person who plays the position of guard on a basketball team

  7. a military unit serving to protect some place or person

  8. a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.; he put an ice pack on the injury as a precaution; an insurance policy is a good safeguard; we let our guard down

    [ Syn: precaution , safeguard ]

  9. the duty of serving as a sentry; he was on guard that night

    [ Syn: guard duty , sentry duty , sentry go ]

  10. (American football) a position on the line of scrimmage; guards must be good blockers'

    guard (v.)

  1. to keep watch over; there would be men guarding the horses'

  2. watch over or shield from danger or harm; protect; guard my possessions while Im away

    [ Syn: ward ]

  3. protect against a challenge or attack; Hold that position behind the trees!; Hold the bridge against the enemys attacks

    [ Syn: defend , hold ]

  4. take precautions in order to avoid some unwanted consequence; guard against becoming too friendly with the staff; guard against infection'

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.