guard

plural guards · alternative obsolete gard · alternative obsolete garde · alternative obsolete guarde

1. A person who, or thing that, protects or watches over something.

   border guard, prison guard, security guard

   2 more examples

   The prison guard unlocked the door of the cell. After completing the repairs, he replaced the sump guard.

   Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke.[…]A silver snaffle on a heavy leather watch guard which connected the pockets of his corduroy waistcoat, together with a huge gold stirrup in his Ascot tie, sufficiently proclaimed his tastes.

   1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter II, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC

2. IrelandA garda; a police officer.

   The Garda Regulations 1924 required a candidate for appointment as a guard to be able to produce satisfactory references as to his character

   2016, Anastasia Dukova, A History of the Dublin Metropolitan Police and its Colonial Legacy, Springer, →ISBN, page 139

3. governmentA squad responsible for protecting something.

   The president inspected the guard of honour.

   1. in pluraloftengovernmentAn elite military unit in Russia, the former Soviet Union and several post-Soviet countries.
4. The part of a sword that protects the wielder's hand.

   Holonym: hilt

   Synonyms: crossguard, quillon, quillon

5. A part of a machine which blocks access to dangerous parts.

   The motorcycle mechanic removed the damaged chain guard.

   Synonyms: protection

6. A watchchain.
7. AustraliaA panel of a car that encloses the wheel area, especially the front wheels.

   The reason I'm asking - Whenever I put some weight in the back of the car (say - a passenger or two) the rear tyres can sometimes hit the guards.

   1999 November 23, Nathan, “Tyres rubbing on guards”, in aus.cars (Usenet)

   2 more examples

   Another possible way is to go for a lower profile tyre (50 series). This effectively lowers the distance of the tyre wall away from the guard (not by much though and generally, the lower the profile, the wider the tyre so the tyre may stick out more as well).

   1996 December 24, Pendles, “Tyres rubbing on guards”, in aus.cars (Usenet)

   I had just bought myself broken headlights, a f**ked up grill, a front guard bent into my front tyre, a leaky radiator and one *SLIGHTLY* bent chassis rail end. I turned the key on my stalled motor and she kicked over first go - if it weren't for the guard bent into the tyre, I could've driven home later if I wanted to.

   2001 June 12, Confusement, “Position N or D”, in alt.autos (Usenet)

   Synonyms: fender

8. uncountableA state of caution; posture of defence.
9. Something worn to protect part of the body, e.g. the shins in cricket.
10. ball gamesA relatively short player, playing farther from the basket than a forward or centre.
11. ball gamesThe position on the popping crease where a batsman makes a mark to align himself with the wicket; see take guard.
12. American footballEither of two offensive positions between the centre and each of the offensive tackles, whose main responsibilities are to protect the quarterback, and open up "holes" through which offensive players can run.
13. governmentA ground grappling position in which one combatant has their back to the ground while attempting to control the other combatant using their legs.
14. hobbiesA player playing a position named guard.
15. rail transportAn employee, normally travelling in the last vehicle of a train, responsible for the safety of the train.

    When an engineer wished to stop a swiftly moving train he had first to whistle to the guard requesting him to apply the hand-brake of the van, and then apply the hand-brake of the engine. Guards did not always hear.

    1938, Xavier Herbert, chapter IX, in Capricornia, New York: D. Appleton-Century, published 1943, page 141

16. computingA Boolean expression that must evaluate to true for a branch of program execution to continue.
17. aeronauticsThe aircraft emergency frequency, a radio frequency reserved for emergency communications, typically 121.5MHz for civilian use.

present singular third person guards · participle present guarding · participle past guarded · past guarded · alternative obsolete gard · alternative obsolete garde · alternative obsolete guarde

1. transitiveTo protect from danger; to secure against surprise, attack, or injury; to keep in safety; to defend.

   All of the mountain passes are guarded by troops.

   2 more examples

   For Heaven still guards the right.

   1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]

   Henceforth, wherever thou may’st roam, ⁠My blessing, like a line of light, ⁠Is on the waters day and night, And like a beacon guards thee home.

   1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XVII”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 28

2. transitiveTo keep watch over, in order to prevent escape or restrain from acts of violence, or the like.

   Guard the prisoner.

3. ambitransitiveTo watch by way of caution or defense; to be cautious; to be in a state or position of defense or safety.

   Careful people guard against mistakes.

4. transitiveTo protect the edge of, especially with an ornamental border; hence, to face or ornament with lists, laces, etc.

   The body of your discourse is sometime guarded with fragments, and the guards are but slightly basted on neither.

   1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]

5. transitiveTo fasten by binding; to gird.

plural Guards

1. A surname.

   Please deliver this package to Mr Guard.

2. abbreviationellipsisEllipsis of the proper name of any of various specific services called the National Guard, the Republican Guard, and so on.

   I was 19 when I joined the Guard. The Guard provides a small pension to members who retire with enough years of service.