Definitions for wardwɔrd

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

wardwɔrd(n.)

a division or district of a city or town, as for administrative or political purposes.
Category: Government
one of the districts into which certain English and Scottish boroughs are divided.
Category: Government
a division or large room of a hospital for a particular class of patients:
a convalescent ward.
any of the separate divisions of a prison.
one of the subdivisions of a stake in the Mormon Church, presided over by a bishop.
Category: Religion
an open space within or between the walls of a castle.
Category: Fortification
a person, esp. a minor, who has been legally placed under the care of a guardian or a court.
Category: Law
the state of being under restraining guard or in custody.
Category: Law
a movement or posture of defense, as in fencing.
a curved ridge of metal in a lock, fitting only a key with a corresponding notch.
the notch or slot on a key into which such a ridge fits.
the act of keeping guard or protective watch:
watch and ward.
(v.t.)to avert or turn aside (danger, an attack, etc.) (usu. fol. by off):
to ward off a blow.
to place in a ward, as of a hospital.
Archaic. to protect; guard.

Origin of ward:

bef. 900; (n.) ME warde, OE weard; (v.) ME; OE weardian, c. OS wardon, OHG wartēn, ON vartha; cf. guard

ward′less(adj.)

Wardwɔrd(n.)

(Aaron) Montgomery, 1843–1913, U.S. mail-order retailer.
Category: Biography
Artemus (Charles Farrar Browne), 1834–67, U.S. humorist.
Category: Biography
Barbara (Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth), 1914–81, British economist, journalist, and conservationist.
Category: Biography
Mrs. Humphry (Mary Augusta Arnold), 1851–1920, English novelist, born in Tasmania.
Category: Biography

-ward^*

a suffix denoting spatial or temporal direction, as specified by the initial element: afterward; backward; seaward. Also, -wards.
Category: Affix, Usage Note

^* Usage: Words formed with this suffix can be used as adverbs or adjectives. Although both -ward and -wards are standard for the adverbial use, the -ward form is more common in edited American English writing: to reach upward; to fall forward. The adjective form is always -ward : a backward glance.

Origin of -ward:

ME; OE -weard, c. OFris, OS -ward, OHG -wart; akin to L vertere to turn (see verse )

Princeton's WordNet

ward(noun)
a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another
ward(noun)
a district into which a city or town is divided for the purpose of administration and elections
ward, hospital ward(noun)
block forming a division of a hospital (or a suite of rooms) shared by patients who need a similar kind of care
"they put her in a 4-bed ward"
Ward, Barbara Ward, Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth(noun)
English economist and conservationist (1914-1981)
Ward, Mrs. Humphrey Ward, Mary Augusta Arnold Ward(noun)
English writer of novels who was an active opponent of the women's suffrage movement (1851-1920)
Ward, Montgomery Ward, Aaron Montgomery Ward(noun)
United States businessman who in 1872 established a successful mail-order business (1843-1913)
cellblock, ward(verb)
a division of a prison (usually consisting of several cells)
guard, ward(verb)
watch over or shield from danger or harm; protect
"guard my possessions while I'm away"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

ward(noun)ɔrd
a division of a city
New Orleans' ninth ward
wardɔrd
a division of a hospital
the children's ward

Wiktionary

Ward(ProperNoun)
An English occupational surname for a guard or watchman.

Origin: weard (masc.), from warduz. Cognate with German Wart.

Webster Dictionary

Ward(adj)
the act of guarding; watch; guard; guardianship; specifically, a guarding during the day. See the Note under Watch, n., 1
Ward(noun)
one who, or that which, guards; garrison; defender; protector; means of guarding; defense; protection
Ward(noun)
the state of being under guard or guardianship; confinement under guard; the condition of a child under a guardian; custody
Ward(noun)
a guarding or defensive motion or position, as in fencing; guard
Ward(noun)
one who, or that which, is guarded
Ward(noun)
a minor or person under the care of a guardian; as, a ward in chancery
Ward(noun)
a division of a county
Ward(noun)
a division, district, or quarter of a town or city
Ward(noun)
a division of a forest
Ward(noun)
a division of a hospital; as, a fever ward
Ward(noun)
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
Ward(noun)
a notch or slit in a key corresponding to a ridge in the lock which it fits; a ward notch
Ward(noun)
to keep in safety; to watch; to guard; formerly, in a specific sense, to guard during the day time
Ward(noun)
to defend; to protect
Ward(noun)
to defend by walls, fortifications, etc
Ward(noun)
to fend off; to repel; to turn aside, as anything mischievous that approaches; -- usually followed by off
Ward(verb)
to be vigilant; to keep guard
Ward(verb)
to act on the defensive with a weapon