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protective

adjective

  1. helping to protect; acting defensively for the safety or preservation of something dear
L41345 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /pɹəˈtɛk.tɪv/ / /pɹoʊˈtɛk.tɪv/ / /pɹəˈtek.tɪv/

adj

Etymology: Etymology tree Medieval Latin prōtēctīvusbor. English protective Borrowed from Medieval Latin prōtēctīvus. By surface analysis, protect + -ive.

  1. Serving or intended to protect.

    The fighter dropped into a protective stance.

    The castle's moat served a protective function.

  2. Wishing to protect; defensive of somebody or something.

    Mother bears are famously protective of their cubs.

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Medieval Latin prōtēctīvusbor. English protective Borrowed from Medieval Latin prōtēctīvus. By surface analysis, protect + -ive.

  1. Something that protects.
  2. A condom.