pro‧tect S2 W2 / prətekt / 动词

1 [不及物和及物动词] to keep someone or something safe from harm, damage, or illness → protection , protective :

Are we doing enough to protect the environment?

protect somebody/something from something

The cover protects the machine from dust.

protect somebody/something against something

Physical exercise can protect you against heart disease.

protect against

Waxing your car will help protect against rust.

2 [及物动词，通常被动态] if an insurance company protects your home, car, life etc, it agrees to pay you money if things are stolen or damaged or you are hurt or killed 同义词 cover :

Unemployment insurance means that you are partially protected if you lose your job.

3 [及物动词] to help the industry and trade of your own country by taxing or restricting foreign goods

THESAURUS

protect to keep someone or something safe from harm, damage, or illness : Don’t worry, I’ll protect you. | The government wants to protect the environment. | Eating healthily helps to protect against many diseases.

give/offer/provide protection to protect someone from something harmful : Wearing a hat offers some protection from the sun. | The drug can give protection against cancer. | The law provides no protection.

guard to protect a person, place, or object by staying near them and watching them : Police officers guarded the entrance to the building. | He is guarded by armed men.

save to protect someone or something when they are in danger of being harmed or destroyed : Local people are fighting to save the theatre from demolition. | Emergency aid could save millions of people who are threatened with starvation.

preserve to keep something, especially buildings or the environment, from being harmed, destroyed, or changed too much : The organization works to preserve forests. | There is little money for preserving historic buildings.

safeguard to protect something important, such as people’s rights, interests, jobs, health etc : The deal will safeguard 200 jobs at the factory. | Laws should do more to safeguard the rights of victims.

shield to put something in front of something else to protect it. Also used to talk about protecting people from unpleasant situations : He lifted his hand to shield his eyes from the light. | They thought the public should be shielded from the truth.

shelter to provide a place where someone or something is protected from the weather or from danger : The village is sheltered by a belt of trees. | His family had sheltered Jews during the war.

harbour British English , harbor American English to help and protect someone who has done something illegal, and prevent the police from finding them : He is accused of harbouring suspected terrorists.