The Meaning of ward

• (a.) The act of guarding; watch; guard; guardianship; specifically, a guarding during the day. See the Note under Watch, n., 1.
• (n.) One who, or that which, guards; garrison; defender; protector; means of guarding; defense; protection.
• (n.) The state of being under guard or guardianship; confinement under guard; the condition of a child under a guardian; custody.
• (n.) A guarding or defensive motion or position, as in fencing; guard.
• (n.) One who, or that which, is guarded.
• (n.) A minor or person under the care of a guardian; as, a ward in chancery.
• (n.) A division of a county.
• (n.) A division, district, or quarter of a town or city.
• (n.) A division of a forest.
• (n.) A division of a hospital; as, a fever ward.
• (n.) A projecting ridge of metal in the interior of a lock, to prevent the use of any key which has not a corresponding notch for passing it.
• (n.) A notch or slit in a key corresponding to a ridge in the lock which it fits; a ward notch.
• (n.) To keep in safety; to watch; to guard; formerly, in a specific sense, to guard during the day time.
• (n.) To defend; to protect.
• (n.) To defend by walls, fortifications, etc.
• (n.) To fend off; to repel; to turn aside, as anything mischievous that approaches; -- usually followed by off.
• (v. i.) To be vigilant; to keep guard.
• (v. i.) To act on the defensive with a weapon.

Synonyms

hospital ward , Ward , Barbara Ward , Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth , Ward , Mrs. Humphrey Ward , Mary Augusta Arnold Ward , Ward , Montgomery Ward , Aaron Montgomery Ward , cellblock , guard

Homophones

warde , warred

Rhymes

abhorred , aboard , aboveboard , accord , acord , adored , afford , alvord , award , baseboard , billboard , blackboard , board , bored , broadsword , cardboard , checkerboard , chessboard , chipboard , chord , clapboard , clavichord , clipboard , concord , concorde , containerboard , cord , dartboard , dashboard , debord , deborde , deplored , dubord , explored , fiberboard , fibreboard , fingerboard , fjord , floorboard , floored , foard , ford , forde , gaylord , gourd , hardboard , harpsichord , headboard , hoard , hord , horde , ignored , inboard , jorde , keyboard , landlord , lord , mainord , mccord , montford , mopboard , mord , mountford , njord , nord , nored , notochord , oared , ord , outboard , outscored , overboard , overlord , paperboard , pegboard , plasterboard , plourde , pored , poured , prerecord , pressboard , reboard , record , revord , reward , roared , scoreboard , scored , seaboard , shavord , shipboard , shored , skateboard , smorgasbord , snowboard , springboard , stored , storyboard , surfboard , sward , switchboard , sword , toward , underscored , unexplored , untoward , verwoerd , wallboard , warde , warlord , warred , washboard , woodward