ward
noun · verb
Simple meaning
The action of a watchman.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
wawrdIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈwɔɹd
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
The action of a watchman; monitoring, surveillance (usually in phrases keep ward etc.)
Protection, defence.
Guardianship, especially of a child or prisoner.
A protected place, and by extension, a type of subdivision.
A division of a prison (usually consisting of several cells)
A section or subdivision of a prison.
verb
Watch over or shield from danger or harm; protect
transitive
To keep in safety, to watch over, to guard.
transitive
To defend, to protect.
intransitive
To be vigilant; to keep guard.
intransitive
To act on the defensive with a weapon.
transitive
To fend off, to repel, to turn aside, as anything mischievous that approaches. (usually followed by off)
More ways to use ward
- “They put her in a 4-bed ward.”noun
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More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Synonyms
Sense: watch over or shield from danger or harm
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