/ wɔːd; NAmE wɔːrd/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a separate room or area in a hospital for people with the same type of medical condition :
a maternity / surgical / psychiatric / children's, etc. ward
He worked as a nurse on the children's ward .
2.
(in Britain) one of the areas into which a city is divided and which elects and is represented by a member of the local council
3.
(especially law ) a person, especially a child, who is under the legal protection of a court or another person (called a guardian ) :
The child was made a ward of court .
■ verb
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PHRASAL VERBS
- ward sb/sth off
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English weard (originally referring to the action of keeping a lookout for danger , also body of guards ), weardian keep safe, guard , of Germanic origin; reinforced in Middle English by Old Northern French warde (noun), warder (verb) guard.