1. To keep from being damaged, attacked, stolen, or injured; to guard: "Often protect is used in the sense of protecting something, like a valued item or a person; however, people can also protect against something; for example, a flu shot can protect against the flu virus."

2. Etymology: attested in English since 1530, from Latin protectus, "covered, protected", past participle of protegere, "to cover the front, protect" from pro-, "in front" + tegere, "to cover".

When anyone protects something, he or she is covering it or shielding it from harm.