guard

Middle English from Old French 'garder', from Frankish *wardōn.

NOUN (1)
[/ɡɑrd/en-US]
guardián literal / protector formal / centinela formal / vigía informal / concepto de guardia untranslatable (The concept of 'guard' in the context of military or police duty doesn't have a single equivalent in Spanish.)
Synonyms protector formal , sentinel formal , watchman informal
Antonyms attacker

A person or group of people who protect a place, person, or thing, often as an official duty. This term is also used to refer to a person whose job is to prevent prisoners from escaping or to control access to a specific area. Unlike some other languages, English often uses 'guard' to encompass a wide range of protective roles, from personal bodyguards to security personnel and military or police forces.

plural
guards
  • The museum hired an extra guard to protect the new exhibit. — A person employed to protect a place.
  • The king always had a personal guard by his side. — A person whose job is to protect someone important.
  • The prison guards conducted a routine search of the cells. — Individuals responsible for overseeing prisoners.
  • The security guard stopped the unauthorized person from entering the building. — A person who protects a building or area.
VERB (1)
[/ɡɑrd/en-US]
proteger general / vigilar general / asegurar formal
Synonyms protect general , watch general , secure formal
Antonyms endanger

To protect someone or something from danger or harm; to watch over something carefully to prevent theft, damage, or escape.

participle past
guarding guarded
  • The soldiers were ordered to guard the bridge against enemy attack. — To protect a location.
  • She always tries to guard her privacy very carefully. — To protect something personal.
  • Please guard your belongings closely in crowded places. — To watch over possessions to prevent theft.
  • The dog was trained to guard the house from intruders. — To protect a property.