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Ward: meaning, definitions and examples

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ward

 

[ wɔːrd ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

hospital

a room in a hospital where patients stay while receiving medical treatment

Synonyms

bay, section, unit

Examples of usage

  • He was taken to the ward for observation.
  • The nurse checked on the patients in the ward regularly.
Context #2 | Noun

prison

a separate room or area in a prison for a specific group of prisoners

Synonyms

block, cell block, wing

Examples of usage

  • The high-security ward housed dangerous criminals.
  • The ward for female inmates was overcrowded.
Context #3 | Verb

protect

guard or protect someone or something from harm or danger

Synonyms

defend, protect, shield

Examples of usage

  • She vowed to ward off any potential threats.
  • The talisman was believed to ward against evil spirits.

Translations

Translations of the word "ward" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ala

🇮🇳 वार्ड

🇩🇪 Station

🇮🇩 bangsal

🇺🇦 відділення

🇵🇱 oddział

🇯🇵 病棟 (びょうとう)

🇫🇷 salle

🇪🇸 sala

🇹🇷 koğuş

🇰🇷 병동 (病棟)

🇸🇦 جناح

🇨🇿 oddělení

🇸🇰 oddelenie

🇨🇳 病房 (bìngfáng)

🇸🇮 oddelek

🇮🇸 deild

🇰🇿 бөлім

🇬🇪 განყოფილება

🇦🇿 şöbə

🇲🇽 sala

Etymology

The word 'ward' originated from Old English 'weard' which meant 'guard' or 'custody'. Over time, the meaning evolved to include the concept of a 'protective division' within institutions like hospitals and prisons. The verb form 'ward off' has roots in the idea of 'keeping a watch' or 'defending against danger'. The word has retained its essence of protection and care through different historical contexts.

See also: inward, warden, wardrobe.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,899, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.