protect

protect
pro‧tect S2 W2 /prəˈtekt/ verb1. [intransitive and transitive] 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. [transitive usually passive] 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
   SYN  cover:
    Unemployment insurance means that you are partially protected if you lose your job.
3. [transitive] 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.