(~s)
1.
A ~ is something that prevents people from doing something by making them afraid of what will happen to them if they do it.
They seriously believe that capital punishment is a ~...
N-COUNT
2.
A ~ is a weapon or set of weapons designed to prevent enemies from attacking by making them afraid to do so.
...a nuclear ~.
N-COUNT
3.
If something has a ~ effect, it has the effect of preventing people from doing certain things.
...his belief in the ~ value of capital punishment.
ADJ: ADJ n