protective — pro‧tec‧tive [prəˈtektɪv] adjective [only before a noun] 1. protective actions, measures, laws etc are designed to keep someone or something safe from harm, damage, negative influences etc: • The company has armed itself with protective barriers … Financial and business terms
Protective — Pro*tect ive, a. [Cf. F. protectif.] Affording protection; sheltering; defensive. The favor of a protective Providence. Feltham. [1913 Webster] {Protective coloring} (Zo[ o]l.), coloring which serves for the concealment and preservation of a… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
protective — pro·tec·tive adj: of, relating to, or providing protection Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. protective I … Law dictionary
protective — [prə tek′tiv, prōtek′tiv] adj. 1. protecting, or serving, intended, or alleged to protect [a protective gesture, protective custody] 2. Econ. serving or intended to protect domestic products, industries, etc. in competition with foreign products … English World dictionary
protective — (adj.) 1660s, from PROTECT (Cf. protect) + IVE (Cf. ive). Protective custody is from 1933, translating Ger. Schutzhaft, used cynically by the Nazis … Etymology dictionary
protective — [adj] guarding, securing careful, conservational, conservative, covering, custodial, defensive, emergency, guardian, insulating, jealous, possessive, preservative, protecting, safeguarding, sheltering, shielding, vigilant, warm, watchful;… … New thesaurus
protective — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ serving, intended, or wishing to protect. ► NOUN Brit. 1) a thing that protects. 2) dated a condom. DERIVATIVES protectively adverb protectiveness noun … English terms dictionary
protective — [[t]prəte̱ktɪv[/t]] 1) ADJ: usu ADJ n Protective means designed or intended to protect something or someone from harm. Protective gloves reduce the absorption of chemicals through the skin... Protective measures are necessary if the city s… … English dictionary
protective — adj. VERBS ▪ be, feel ▪ become ADVERB ▪ fiercely, highly, very ▪ Lionesses a … Collocations dictionary
protective — adjective 1 (only before noun) used or intended for protection: protective clothing | protective legislation | a protective layer of varnish 2 wanting to protect someone from harm or danger, often in a way that unintentionally restricts their… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
