I. safe ‧ guard 1 /ˈseɪfɡɑːd $ -ɡɑːrd/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
to protect something from harm or damage
safeguard sb’s interests/rights/welfare etc
The industry has a duty to safeguard consumers.
technology that will safeguard the environment
safeguard something against something
a program for safeguarding the computer system against viruses
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ protect to keep someone or something safe from harm, damage, or illness:
Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.
|
The government wants to protect the environment.
|
Eating healthily helps to protect against many diseases.
▪ give/offer/provide protection to protect someone from something harmful:
Wearing a hat offers some protection from the sun.
|
The drug can give protection against cancer.
|
The law provides no protection.
▪ guard to protect a person, place, or object by staying near them and watching them:
Police officers guarded the entrance to the building.
|
He is guarded by armed men.
▪ save to protect someone or something when they are in danger of being harmed or destroyed:
Local people are fighting to save the theatre from demolition.
|
Emergency aid could save millions of people who are threatened with starvation.
▪ preserve to keep something, especially buildings or the environment, from being harmed, destroyed, or changed too much:
The organization works to preserve forests.
|
There is little money for preserving historic buildings.
▪ safeguard to protect something important, such as people’s rights, interests, jobs, health etc:
The deal will safeguard 200 jobs at the factory.
|
Laws should do more to safeguard the rights of victims.
▪ shield to put something in front of something else to protect it. Also used to talk about protecting people from unpleasant situations:
He lifted his hand to shield his eyes from the light.
|
They thought the public should be shielded from the truth.
▪ shelter to provide a place where someone or something is protected from the weather or from danger:
The village is sheltered by a belt of trees.
|
His family had sheltered Jews during the war.
▪ harbour British English , harbor American English to help and protect someone who has done something illegal, and prevent the police from finding them:
He is accused of harbouring suspected terrorists.
II. safeguard 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
a rule, agreement etc that is intended to protect someone or something from possible dangers or problems:
International safeguards prevent the increase of nuclear weapons.
safeguard against
safeguards against the exploitation of children