Library / English Dictionary

GUARD

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A position on a basketball team

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("guard" is a kind of...):

position ((in team sports) the role assigned to an individual player)

Holonyms ("guard" is a member of...):

basketball team; five (a team that plays basketball)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(American football) a position on the line of scrimmage

Example:

guards must be good blockers

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("guard" is a kind of...):

lineman ((American football) the position of a player on a football team who is stationed on the line of scrimmage)

Holonyms ("guard" is a member of...):

eleven; football team (a team that plays football)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The duty of serving as a sentry

Example:

he was on guard that night

Synonyms:

guard; guard duty; sentry duty; sentry go

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("guard" is a kind of...):

assignment; duty assignment (a duty that you are assigned to perform (especially in the armed forces))

Derivation:

guard (to keep watch over)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.

Example:

we let our guard down

Synonyms:

guard; precaution; safeguard

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("guard" is a kind of...):

measure; step (any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "guard"):

backstop (a precaution in case of an emergency)

security; security measures (measures taken as a precaution against theft or espionage or sabotage etc.)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A device designed to prevent injury or accidents

Synonyms:

guard; safety; safety device

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("guard" is a kind of...):

device (an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "guard"):

fender (a low metal guard to confine falling coals to a hearth)

safety catch; safety lock (guard consisting of a locking device that prevents a weapon from being fired)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A posture of defence in boxing or fencing

Example:

keep your guard up

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("guard" is a kind of...):

attitude; position; posture (the arrangement of the body and its limbs)

Sense 7

Meaning:

A military unit serving to protect some place or person

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Hypernyms ("guard" is a kind of...):

force; military force; military group; military unit (a unit that is part of some military service)

Meronyms (members of "guard"):

bodyguard; escort (someone who escorts and protects a prominent person)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "guard"):

bodyguard (a group of men who escort and protect some important person)

home guard (a volunteer unit formed to defend the homeland while the regular army is fighting elsewhere)

territorial; territorial reserve (a territorial military unit)

Derivation:

guard (watch over or shield from danger or harm; protect)

Sense 8

Meaning:

The person who plays that position on a football team

Example:

the left guard was injured on the play

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("guard" is a kind of...):

lineman (one of the players on the line of scrimmage)

Sense 9

Meaning:

A person who keeps watch over something or someone

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("guard" is a kind of...):

defender; guardian; protector; shielder (a person who cares for persons or property)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "guard"):

security guard; watcher; watchman (a guard who keeps watch)

screener (a guard at an airport who checks passengers or their luggage at a security checkpoint)

halberdier (a guard who carries a halberd (as a symbol of his duty))

door guard; doorkeeper; doorman; gatekeeper; hall porter; ostiary; porter (someone who guards an entrance)

bouncer; chucker-out (a person whose duty is to throw troublemakers out of a bar or public meeting)

Derivation:

guard (to keep watch over)

Sense 10

Meaning:

The person who plays the position of guard on a basketball team

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("guard" is a kind of...):

basketball player; basketeer; cager (an athlete who plays basketball)

Instance hyponyms:

Oscar Palmer Robertson; Oscar Robertson; Robertson (United States basketball guard (born in 1938))

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Watch over or shield from danger or harm; protect

Example:

guard my possessions while I'm away

Synonyms:

guard; ward

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "guard" is one way to...):

protect (shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "guard"):

shepherd (watch over like a shepherd, as a teacher of her pupils)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

guard (a military unit serving to protect some place or person)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Protect against a challenge or attack

Example:

Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks

Synonyms:

defend; guard; hold

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "guard" is one way to...):

protect (shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage)

Verb group:

hold (take and maintain control over, often by violent means)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

To keep watch over

Example:

there would be men guarding the horses

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "guard" is one way to...):

follow; keep an eye on; observe; watch; watch over (follow with the eyes or the mind)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "guard"):

patrol; police (maintain the security of by carrying out a patrol)

keep guard; stand guard; stand sentinel; stand watch (watch over so as to protect)

baby-sit; babysit; sit (work or act as a baby-sitter)

baby-sit; babysit (take watchful responsibility for)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

guard (the duty of serving as a sentry)

guard (a person who keeps watch over something or someone)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Take precautions in order to avoid some unwanted consequence

Example:

guard against infection

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "guard" is one way to...):

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Credits

 Context examples: 

My correspondence, however, is, as you know, a varied one, and I am somewhat upon my guard against any packages which reach me.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

We’ll sit up on guard with our pistols, nephew, and I only trust that these villains may be indiscreet enough to attempt it.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Thereupon the servant knocked in a very guarded manner; the door was opened on the chain; and a voice asked from within, “Is that you, Poole?”

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Keep your guard up, and listen first, then take time to think before you answer.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The woman now gave Dorothy a bed to sleep in, and Toto lay down beside her, while the Lion guarded the door of her room so she might not be disturbed.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

This prince was so gracious as to order a guard to conduct me to Glanguenstald, which is a royal port to the south-west part of the island.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

He had loosed the guard upon his tongue and talked about things that were not nice.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Likewise in the castle lay great treasures, which were guarded by evil spirits, and these treasures would then be freed, and would make a poor man rich enough.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

The two who were left guarding their boats seemed in a bustle at our appearance; “Lillibullero” stopped off, and I could see the pair discussing what they ought to do.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

The spirits that guarded me had provided these moments, or rather hours, of happiness that I might retain strength to fulfil my pilgrimage.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)