I. prəˈtektiv, -tēv also -əv adjective
Etymology: protect + -ive
1. : protecting or intended to protect : affording or serving as a safeguard : providing a defense or shelter against danger or harm : tending to shield
many shore animals have protective color and patterns which enable them to blend with their surroundings — W.H.Dowdeswell
failure to use protective masks in the numerous grinding operations — Lewis Mumford
she felt protective towards him — Olive Johnson
2. : based on or relating to the economic principles of protection : affording or designed to afford protection
protective duties
3. : imposed as a means of or under the guise of insuring protection from public hostility
protective arrest
if he's tight, return him to his ship under protective custody — D.R.Morris
II. noun
( -s )
1. : something that serves for protection
2. : an agent (as a medicine or a dressing) that protects the body or one of its parts (as from irritation or injury)
vitamins are protectives against certain deficiency diseases