Thesaurus: ward

Related headwords

Definitions

1. a. The act of guarding; watch; guard; guardianship; specifically, a guarding during the day. See the Note under Watch, n., 1.
2. n. One who, or that which, guards; garrison; defender; protector; means of guarding; defense; protection.
3. n. The state of being under guard or guardianship; confinement under guard; the condition of a child under a guardian; custody.
4. n. A guarding or defensive motion or position, as in fencing; guard.
5. n. One who, or that which, is guarded.
6. n. A minor or person under the care of a guardian; as, a ward in chancery.
7. n. A division of a county.
8. n. A division, district, or quarter of a town or city.
9. n. A division of a forest.
10. n. A division of a hospital; as, a fever ward.
11. n. A projecting ridge of metal in the interior of a lock, to prevent the use of any key which has not a corresponding notch for passing it.
12. n. A notch or slit in a key corresponding to a ridge in the lock which it fits; a ward notch.
13. n. To keep in safety; to watch; to guard; formerly, in a specific sense, to guard during the day time.
14. n. To defend; to protect.
15. n. To defend by walls, fortifications, etc.
16. n. To fend off; to repel; to turn aside, as anything mischievous that approaches; -- usually followed by off.
17. v. i. To be vigilant; to keep guard.
18. v. i. To act on the defensive with a weapon.