pros|per|ous /prɒ spərəs/ ADJ Prosperous people, places, and economies are rich and successful. [FORMAL ] □ …the youngest son of a relatively prosperous British family.
pros|tate /prɒ ste I t/ (prostates ) N‑COUNT The prostate or the prostate gland is an organ in the body of male mammals which is situated at the neck of the bladder and produces a liquid which forms part of semen.
pros|the|sis /prɒsθiː s I s/ (prostheses ) N‑COUNT A prosthesis is an artificial body part that is used to replace a natural part. [MEDICAL ]
pros|thet|ic /prɒsθe t I k/ ADJ [ADJ n] Prosthetic parts of the body are artificial ones used to replace natural ones. [MEDICAL ]
pros|ti|tute /prɒ st I tjuːt, [AM ] -tuːt/ (prostitutes ) N‑COUNT A prostitute is a person, usually a woman, who has sex with men in exchange for money. □ He admitted last week he paid for sex with a prostitute.
pros|ti|tu|tion /prɒ st I tjuː ʃ ə n, [AM ] -tuː -/ N‑UNCOUNT Prostitution means having sex with people in exchange for money. □ She eventually drifts into prostitution.
pros|trate (prostrates , prostrating , prostrated ) The verb is pronounced /prɒstre I t, [AM ] prɑː stre I t/. The adjective is pronounced /prɒ stre I t/. 1 VERB If you prostrate yourself , you lie down flat on the ground, on your front, usually to show respect for God or a person in authority. □ [V pron-refl] They prostrated themselves before their king.
2 ADJ [ADJ after v] If you are lying prostrate , you are lying flat on the ground, on your front. □ Percy was lying prostrate, his arms outstretched and his eyes closed.
3 ADJ If someone is prostrate , they are so distressed or affected by a very bad experience that they are unable to do anything at all. [FORMAL ] □ I was prostrate with grief.
pro|tago|nist /prətæ gən I st, [AM ] proʊ-/ (protagonists )
1 N‑COUNT Someone who is a protagonist of an idea or movement is a supporter of it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …the main protagonists of their countries' integration into the world market.
2 N‑COUNT A protagonist in a play, novel, or real event is one of the main people in it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …the protagonist of J. D. Salinger's novel 'The Catcher in the Rye'.
pro|tean /proʊ tiən/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone or something as protean , you mean that they have the ability to continually change their nature, appearance, or behaviour. [FORMAL ] □ He is a protean stylist who can move from blues to ballads and grand symphony.
pro|tect ◆◆◇ /prəte kt/ (protects , protecting , protected )
1 VERB To protect someone or something means to prevent them from being harmed or damaged. □ [V n + from/against ] So, what can women do to protect themselves from heart disease? □ [V n] The government is committed to protecting the interests of tenants.
2 VERB If an insurance policy protects you against an event such as death, injury, fire, or theft, the insurance company will give you or your family money if that event happens. □ [V n + against ] Many manufacturers have policies to protect themselves against blackmailers. [Also V + against ] SYNONYMS protect VERB 1
defend: They would have killed him if he had not defended himself.
shield: He shielded his head from the sun with an old sack.
shelter: …a wooden house, sheltered by a low pointed roof.
safeguard: They will press for international action to safeguard the ozone layer.
pro|tect|ed /prəte kt I d/ ADJ Protected is used to describe animals, plants, and areas of land which the law does not allow to be destroyed, harmed, or damaged. □ In England, thrushes are a protected species so you will not find them on any menu.
pro|tec|tion ◆◆◇ /prəte kʃ ə n/ (protections )
1 N‑VAR To give or be protection against something unpleasant means to prevent people or things from being harmed or damaged by it. □ [+ against ] Such a diet is widely believed to offer protection against a number of cancers. □ It is clear that the primary duty of parents is to provide protection for our children.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If an insurance policy gives you protection against an event such as death, injury, fire, or theft, the insurance company will give you or your family money if that event happens. □ [+ against ] The new policy is believed to be the first scheme to offer protection against an illness.
3 N‑UNCOUNT If a government has a policy of protection , it helps its own industries by putting a tax on imported goods or by restricting imports in some other way. [BUSINESS ] □ Over the same period trade protection has increased in the rich countries. COLLOCATIONS protection NOUN
1
noun + protection : consumer, data, payment; fire, sun; child, protection
adjective + protection : environmental, legal; adequate, effective; coastal
verb + protection : afford, give, offer, provide; need, seek; enjoy
2
noun + protection : bankruptcy, income SYNONYMS protection NOUN 1
defence: The immune system is our main defence against disease.
safeguard: Many people took second jobs as a safeguard against unemployment.
security: Strict security measures are in force in the capital.
shield: He used his left hand as a shield against the reflecting sunlight.