protected

1. 1
   adjective

   Kept safe and defended from harm or danger.

   Like a turtle inside its hard shell, kept safe from harm.

   The campsite sat in a protected valley away from the wind.

   Sea turtles are a protected species in many countries.

   Similarsafe, sheltered, secure, guarded, shielded

   Oppositeunprotected, exposed, vulnerable

   Note
2. 2
   verb

   Simple past and past participle of protect. Use this form for something that already happened.

   The guards protected the king throughout the long journey.

   She protected her little brother from the bullies at school.

   Note
3. 3
   adjective

   Marked in a program so only related parts can use it, not the whole program.

   Like a family recipe shared only with close relatives, not with strangers.

   The variable is protected, so only subclasses can change its value.

   He made the method protected instead of leaving it public.

   Note

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