protect

S2 W1

BrE /prəˈtekt/ AmE /prəˈtekt/

verb en → es

past protected pp protected ing protecting

1 DEFEND/SHIELD [transitive] A2

to keep someone or something safe from harm, damage, or attack

proteger, defender, guardar

  • protect somebody/something from/against somebody/something

Collocations protect the environment · protect children's rights

  • The army is responsible for protecting the country.

    El ejército es responsable de proteger al país.

2 GUARD/SECURE [transitive] B1

to guard or secure something against damage, loss, or theft

proteger, guardar, asegurar

  • protect something from/against somebody/something

Collocations protect your eyesight · protect the skin from sun damage

  • Wear a helmet to protect yourself.

    Usa un casco para protegerte.

3 GUARANTEE [transitive] B2

to guarantee that something will not be damaged or harmed in any way

garantizar, asegurar, proteger

  • protect somebody/something from/against

Collocations protect your rights · protect the interests of a company

  • The law protects the rights of all citizens.

    La ley garantiza los derechos de todos los ciudadanos.

4 INSURE [transitive] B2

to provide insurance to protect against financial loss or damage

asegurar, proteger, cubrir

  • protect somebody/something from/against

Collocations protect against financial loss · protect your home with insurance

  • We need to protect our business from economic downturns.

    Necesitamos proteger nuestro negocio de los recortes económicos.

Phrasal verbs

protect against GUARD/SECURE B1

proteger contra

  • This vaccine protects against several diseases.

    Esta vacuna protege contra varias enfermedades.

protect from GUARD/SECURE B1

proteger de

  • The fence protects the garden from intruders.

    El cercado protege el jardín de los intrusos.

protect somebody up to GUARANTEE B2

proteger a alguien hasta que

  • The company will protect its employees up to retirement age.

    La empresa protegerá a sus empleados hasta la edad de jubilación.

protect somebody out of GUARANTEE B2

proteger a alguien fuera de

  • The government will protect the citizens out of harm's way.

    El gobierno protegerá a los ciudadanos fuera del peligro.

protect somebody off GUARD/SECURE B2

proteger a alguien de

  • The security guard protected the celebrity off from fans.

    El guardaespaldas protegió al famoso de los fans.

Idioms

protect at all costs B2

proteger a toda costa

  • The company will protect its reputation at all costs.

    La empresa protegerá su reputación a toda costa.

protect one's interests B2

proteger los intereses de uno mismo

  • The lawyer will protect the client's interests.

    El abogado protegerá los intereses del cliente.

protect one's rights B2

proteger los derechos de uno mismo

  • The organization works to protect the rights of workers.

    La organización trabaja para proteger los derechos de los trabajadores.