WARD


Meaning of WARD in English

n. & v.

--n.

1. a separate room or division of a hospital, prison, etc. (men's surgical ward).

2 a Brit. an administrative division of a constituency, usu. electing a councillor or councillors etc. b esp. US a similar administrative division.

3 a a minor under the care of a guardian appointed by the parents or a court. b (in full ward of court) a minor or mentally deficient person placed under the protection of a court.

4 (in pl.) the corresponding notches and projections in a key and a lock.

5 archaic a the act of guarding or defending a place etc. b the bailey of a castle. c a guardian's control; confinement; custody.

--v.tr. archaic guard; protect.

Phrases and idioms:

ward-heeler US a party worker in elections etc. ward off

1. parry (a blow).

2 avert (danger, poverty, etc.).

Etymology: OE weard, weardian f. Gmc: cf. GUARD

Oxford English vocab.      Оксфордский английский словарь.