1.  protection(n = noun.act) - the activity of protecting someone or something; "the witnesses demanded police protection"
is a kind of activity
has particulars: air cover, shielding, preservation, saving, momism, overprotection, overshielding, defence, defense, defence, defense, inoculating, vaccinating, patrol, self-defence, self-defense, self-protection, insulation, locking, lockup, accompaniment, escort, covering, immunisation, immunization, care, charge, guardianship, tutelage, ruggedisation, ruggedization, sealing, waterproofing, civil defense
Derived form verb protect₁

2.  protection(n = noun.artifact) protective cover, protective covering - a covering that is intend to protect from damage or injury; "they had no protection from the fallout"; "wax provided protection for the floors"
is a kind of covering
has particulars: armor, armour, bell glass, bell jar, binder, ring-binder, back, binding, book binding, cover, blind, screen, armguard, bracer, cap, cloche, coaster, cold frame, crystal, watch crystal, watch glass, dust cover, faceplate, cladding, facing, fall-board, fallboard, escutcheon, finger plate, scutcheon, heat shield, bonnet, cowl, cowling, hood, housing, liner, lining, mask, mulch, roof, roof, screen, shade, sheath, overlay, overlayer, sheathing, shelter, shield, dashboard, splashboard, splasher, splasher, testudo, thumbstall, toecap, splashboard, washboard
Derived form verb protect₁

3.  protection(n = noun.possession) security - defense against financial failure; financial independence; "his pension gave him security in his old age"; "insurance provided protection against loss of wages due to illness"
is a kind of assets
has particulars: easy street, hedge, hedging, insurance

4.  protection(n = noun.state) shelter - the condition of being protected; "they were huddled together for protection"; "he enjoyed a sense of peace and protection in his new home"
is a kind of security
has particulars: indemnity, insurance, radioprotection

5.  protection(n = noun.act) aegis, auspices - kindly endorsement and guidance; "the tournament was held under the auspices of the city council"
is a kind of endorsement, indorsement

6.  protection(n = noun.act) trade protection - the imposition of duties or quotas on imports in order to protect domestic industry against foreign competition; "he made trade protection a plank in the party platform"
is a kind of imposition, infliction
Derived form verb protect₂

7.  protection(n = noun.act) tribute - payment extorted by gangsters on threat of violence; "every store in the neighborhood had to pay him protection"
is a kind of extortion

1.  The act of protecting, or the state of being protected; preservation from loss, injury, or annoyance; defense; shelter; as, the weak need protection. [1913 Webster]
"To your protection I commend me, gods." [1913 Webster]

2.  That which protects or preserves from injury; a defense; a shield; a refuge. [1913 Webster]
"Let them rise up . . . and be your protection." [1913 Webster]

3.  A writing that protects or secures from molestation or arrest; a pass; a safe-conduct; a passport. [1913 Webster]
"He . . . gave them protections under his hand." [1913 Webster]

4.  A theory, or a policy, of protecting the producers in a country from foreign competition in the home market by the imposition of such discriminating duties on goods of foreign production as will restrict or prevent their importation; -- opposed to free trade. [1913 Webster]

protection, n.
1 a the act or an instance of protecting. b the state of being protected; defence (affords protection against the weather). c a thing, person, or animal that provides protection (bought a dog as protection).
2 (also protectionism) Econ. the theory or practice of protecting home industries.
3 colloq. a immunity from molestation obtained by payment to gangsters etc. under threat of violence. b (in full protection money) the money so paid, esp. on a regular basis.
4 = safe conduct.
5 archaic the keeping of a woman as a mistress.

Derivative:
protectionist n.

Etymology:
ME f. OF protection or LL protectio (as PROTECT)

N  safety, security, surety, impregnability, invulnerability, invulnerableness, danger past, danger over, storm blown over, coast clear, escape, means of escape, blow valve, safety valve, release valve, sniffing valve, safeguard, palladium, guardianship, wardship, wardenship, tutelage, custody, safekeeping, preservation, protection, auspices, safe-conduct, escort, convoy, guard, shield, guardian angel, tutelary god, tutelary deity, tutelary saint, genius loci, protector, guardian, warden, warder, preserver, custodian, duenna, chaperon, third person, watchdog, bandog, Cerberus, watchman, patrolman, policeman, cop, dick, fuzz, smokey, peeler, zarp, sentinel, sentry, scout, garrison, guardship, refuge &c, anchor, precaution, quarantine, cordon sanitaire, confidence, protect, take care of, preserve, cover, screen, shelter, shroud, flank, ward, guard, secure, entrench, intrench, fence round, house, nestle, ensconce, take charge of, escort, convoy, garrison, watch, mount guard, patrol, make assurance doubly sure, take up a loose thread, take precautions, double reef topsails, seek safety, take shelter, find shelter, Adj, safe, secure, sure, in safety, in security, on the safe side, under the shield of, under the shade of, under the wing of, under the shadow of one's wing, under cover, under lock and key, out of danger, out of the woods, out of the meshes, out of harm's way, unharmed, unscathed, on sure ground, at anchor, high and dry, above water, unthreatened, unmolested, protected, cavendo tutus, panoplied, snug, seaworthy, weatherproof, waterproof, fireproof, defensible, tenable, proof against, invulnerable, unassailable, unattackable, impenetrable, impregnable, imperdible, inexpugnable, Achillean, safe and sound, scathless, unhazarded, not dangerous, unthreatening, harmless, friendly (cooperative), protecting, protective, guardian, tutelary, preservative, trustworthy, ex abundanti cautela, with impunity, all's well, salva res est, suave mari magno, a couvert, e terra alterius spectare laborem, Dieu vous garde.

N  defense, protection, guard, ward, shielding, propugnation, preservation, guardianship, area defense, site defense, self-defense, self-preservation, resistance, safeguard, balistraria, bunker, screen, camouflage, fortification, munition, muniment, trench, foxhole, bulwark, fosse, moat, ditch, entrenchment, intrenchment, kila, dike, dyke, parapet, sunk fence, embankment, mound, mole, bank, sandbag, revetment, earth work, field- work, fence, wall dead wall, contravallation, paling, palisade, haha, stockade, stoccado, laager, sangar, barrier, barricade, boom, portcullis, chevaux de frise, abatis, abattis, abbatis, vallum, circumvallation, battlement, rampart, scarp, escarp, counter-scarp, glacis, casemate, vallation, vanfos, buttress, abutment, shore, breastwork, banquette, curtain, mantlet, bastion, redan, ravelin, vauntmure, advance work, horn work, outwork, barbacan, barbican, redoubt, fort-elage, fort-alice, lines, loophole, machicolation, sally port, hold, stronghold, fastness, asylum, keep, donjon, dungeon, fortress, citadel, capitol, castle, tower of strength, tower of strength, fort, barracoon, pah, sconce, martello tower, peelhouse, blockhouse, rath, wooden walls, bulletproof vest, armored vest, buffer, corner stone, fender, apron, mask, gauntlet, thimble, carapace, armor, shield, buckler, aegis, breastplate, backplate, cowcatcher, face guard, scutum, cuirass, habergeon, mail, coat of mail, brigandine, hauberk, lorication, helmet, helm, bassinet, salade, heaume, morion, murrion, armet, cabaset, vizor, casquetel, siege cap, headpiece, casque, pickelhaube, vambrace, shako, bearskin, panoply, truncheon, garrison, picket, piquet, defender, protector, guardian, bodyguard, champion, knight-errant, Paladin, propugner, bulletproof window, hardened site, defending, defensive, mural, armed, armed at all points, armed cap-a-pie, armed to the teeth, panoplied, iron-plated, ironclad, loopholed, castellated, machicolated, casemated, defended, proof against, armored, ballproof, bulletproof, hardened, defensively, on the defense, on the defensive, in defense, at bay, pro aris et focis, Int, no surrender!, defense not defiance, Dieu defend le droit, fidei defensor, defender of the faith.

N  restraint, hindrance, coercion, cohibition, constraint, repression, suppression, discipline, control, confinement, durance, duress, imprisonment, incarceration, coarctation, entombment, mancipation, durance vile, limbo, captivity, blockade, arrest, arrestation, custody, keep, care, charge, ward, restringency, curb, lettres de cachet, limitation, restriction, protection, monopoly, prohibition, prisoner, repressionist, restrained, constrained, imprisoned, pent up, jammed in, wedged in, under lock and key, under restraint, under hatches, in swaddling clothes, on parole, in custody, doing time, cohibitive, coactive, stiff, restringent, strait-laced, hidebound, barkbound, ice bound, wind bound, weather bound, cabined cribbed confined, in Lob's pound, laid by the heels.

N  influence, importance, weight, pressure, preponderance, prevalence, sway, predominance, predominancy, ascendency, dominance, reign, control, domination, pull, authority, capability, effect, interest, synergy (cooperation), footing, purchase, play, leverage, vantage ground, tower of strength, host in himself, protection, patronage, auspices, influential, effective, important, weighty, prevailing, prevalent, rife, rampant, dominant, regnant, predominant, in the ascendant, hegemonical, with telling effect, tel maure tel valet.

environmental protection agency, equal protection of the laws, giving protection, offering protection, protection racket, sun protection factor, trade protection