protective

Serving or intended to protect.

Adjective

  1. Serving or intended to protect.
    • The fighter dropped into a protective stance.
    • The castle's moat served a protective function.
    • Pour a solvent such as paint thinner, mineral spirits, or a liquid sandpaper product in a metal can or enamel bowl. Wear protective gloves. - 2004, Mickey Baskett, Fabulous Painted Furniture, page 13:
  2. Wishing to protect; defensive of somebody or something.
    • Mother bears are famously protective of their cubs.

Origin

Etymology tree Medieval Latin prōtēctīvusbor. English protective Borrowed from Medieval Latin prōtēctīvus. By surface analysis, protect + -ive.

Forms

more protective most protective

Derived

atheroprotective autoprotective axoprotective bioprotective bronchoprotective canceroprotective carcinoprotective cardioprotective carioprotective cerebroprotective chemoprotective cholangioprotective chondroprotective cryoprotective cytoprotective dermatoprotective ecoprotective endothelioprotective enteroprotective excitoprotective fertoprotective fibroprotective gastroprotective genoprotective

Noun

  1. Something that protects.
  2. A condom.

Forms

protectives