Definition 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.