■ noun
1》 a room in a hospital, typically one allocated to a particular type of patient.
2》 an administrative division of a city or borough, typically represented by a councillor or councillors.
3》 a child or young person under the care and control of a guardian appointed by their parents or a court.
↘ archaic guardianship.
4》 any of the internal ridges or bars in a lock which prevent the turning of any key without corresponding grooves.
↘the corresponding grooves in the bit of a key.
5》 historical an area of ground enclosed by the encircling walls of a fortress or castle.
6》 archaic the action of keeping a lookout for danger.
■ verb
1》 ( ~ someone/thing off ) prevent someone or something from harming or affecting one.
2》 archaic guard; protect.
Phrases
~ of court a child or young person for whom a guardian has been appointed by the Court of Chancery or who has become directly subject to the authority of that court.
Derivatives
~ship noun
Origin
OE weard , weardian 'keep safe, guard', of Gmc origin; reinforced in ME by Old North. Fr. ~e (n.), ~er (v.) 'guard'.