Guard | Mean of guard in English Dictionary

/ˈgɑɚd/

• Noun
• a state in which someone is carefully looking for possible danger, threats, problems, etc.
1. There were dozens of police officers standing/keeping guard along the parade route.
2. Several soldiers were on guard [=watching and ready to respond if needed] at the gate.
3. The soldiers were on their guard. [=they were watching and ready to respond]
4. We need to be on guard against attack. [=we need to be alert so we are not attacked; we should be prepared to be attacked]
5. He always has/keeps his guard up [=is careful and alert] during negotiations.
6. She never lets down her guard. = She never lets her guard down. [=she never relaxes and stops being careful and alert]
• a person whose job or duty is to watch and protect someone or something
1. There were several (armed) guards stationed at the gate.
2. (US) a prison guard [=someone who watches prisoners to prevent their escape]
• a group of people (such as soldiers) who protect a person or place
1. the palace guard
2. Tourists gather every day to watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.

• soldiers who protect a king or queen
1. the Royal Horse Guards
• something that keeps an unwanted result or effect from happening
1. The wound should be thoroughly cleaned as a guard against infection.
• a special part or device that protects someone or something from injury or damage
1. The guard must be in place before operating the meat slicer.
2. a mouth/shin guard
• either one of two players who play in positions on either side of the center
• either one of two players who usually play away from the basket and control their team's play when they are trying to score points
• in an unprepared state
1. They've been bluffing, trying to keep him off guard.
2. Her angry response caught me off guard. [=surprised me]
3. We were thrown off guard [=surprised] by their early arrival.
• in the position of someone (such as a prisoner) who is being watched by a guard
1. He was arrested and placed under guard. [=he was arrested and watched carefully so he would not escape]
• Verb
• to watch (someone) in order to prevent escape
1. Two policemen were assigned to guard the prisoner.
• to protect (someone or something) from danger or attack
1. soldiers guarding the president
2. A tank guarded the bridge from/against enemy attack.
3. A police officer was stationed outside to guard the door/entrance.
• to be careful about not telling or talking about (something, such as a secret)
1. They jealously guard their secrets.
2. He guards his privacy.
3. Her whereabouts are a tightly/closely guarded secret.
• to try to keep (an opponent) from scoring (especially in basketball)
1. He was assigned to guard their best player.
• to try to keep (something) from happening
1. Clean the wound to guard against infection.
2. That's the sort of thinking we have to guard against.
3. We need to guard against waste.