(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
1.
To ~ something or someone means to protect them from being harmed, lost, or badly treated. (FORMAL)
They will press for international action to ~ the ozone layer...
They are taking precautionary measures to ~ their forces from the effects of chemical weapons.
= protect
VERB: V n, V n from n
2.
A ~ is a law, rule, or measure intended to prevent someone or something from being harmed.
Many people took second jobs as a ~ against unemployment...
N-COUNT: oft N against n