| guard | 1. One who, or that which, guards from injury, danger, exposure, or attack; defense; protection. "His greatness was no guard to bar heaven's shaft." (Shak) 2. A man, or body of men, stationed to protect or control a person or position; a watch; a sentinel. "The guard which kept the door of the king's house." Kings xiv. 27. 3. One who has charge of a mail coach or a railway train; a conductor. 4. Any fixture or attachment designed to protect or secure against injury, soiling, or defacement, theft or loss; as: That part of a sword hilt which protects the hand. Ornamental lace or hem protecting the edge of a garment. A chain or cord for fastening a watch to one's person or dress. A fence or rail to prevent falling from the deck of a vessel. An extension of the deck of a vessel beyond the hull; especially, in side-wheel steam vessels, the framework of strong timbers, which curves out on each side beyond the paddle wheel, and protects it and the shaft against collision. A plate of metal, beneath the stock, or the lock frame, of a gun or pistol, having a loop, called a bow, to protect the trigger. An interleaved strip at the back, as in a scrap book, to guard against its breaking when filled. 5. A posture of defense in fencing, and in bayonet and saber exercise. 6. An expression or admission intended to secure against objections or censure. "They have expressed themselves with as few guards and restrictions as I." (Atterbury) 7. Watch; heed; care; attention; as, to keep guard. 8. <zoology> The fibrous sheath which covers the phragmacone of the Belemnites. Guard is often used adjectively or in combination; as, guard boat or guardboat; guardroom or guard room; guard duty. Advanced guard, Coast guard, etc. See Advanced, Coast, etc. Grand guard, one of the posts of the second line belonging to a system of advance posts of an army. Guard boat. A boat appointed to row the rounds among ships of war in a harbor, to see that their officers keep a good lookout. A boat used by harbor authorities to enforce the observance of quarantine regulations. <botany> Guard cells, to go on duty as a guard or sentinel. To run the guard, to pass the watch or sentinel without leave. Synonym: Defense, shield, protection, safeguard, convoy, escort, care, attention, watch, heed. Origin: OF. Guarde, F. Garde; of German origin; cf. OHG. Wart, marto, one who watches, mata a watching, Goth. Wardja watchman. See Guard. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| guard cell | <plant biology> Plant cells occurring in pairs in the epidermis, flanking each stoma. Changes in turgor in the guard cells cause the stoma to open and close. (18 Nov 1997) |
| paradoxical incontinence | Involuntary loss of urine associated with overdistention of the bladder, with or without a detrusor contraction. Synonym: paradoxical incontinence. (05 Mar 2000) |
| reflex incontinence | In neurogenic disorders, loss of urine due to detrusor hyperreflexia and/or involuntary urethral relaxation in the absence of the desire to void. (05 Mar 2000) |
| passive incontinence | Dribbling of urine by reason of inability of the bladder to empty itself and of consequent overdistention. See: overflow incontinence. (05 Mar 2000) |
| stress urinary incontinence | Leakage of urine as a result of coughing, straining, or some sudden voluntary movement, due to weakness of the fascia muscles and at the neck of the bladder. Synonym: urinary exertional incontinence. (05 Mar 2000) |
| incontinence | <gastroenterology, urology> The inability to control excretory functions, as defecation (faecal incontinence) or urination (urinary incontinence). Origin: L. Incontinentia (13 Nov 1997) |
| incontinence, faecal | Inability to hold feces in the rectum. This is due to failure of voluntary control over the anal sphincters permitting untimely passage of feces and gas. Also called rectal incontinence. (12 Dec 1998) |
| incontinence of faeces | The involuntary voiding of faeces into clothing or bedclothes, usually due to pathology affecting sphincter control or loss of cognitive functions. Synonym: faecal incontinence. (05 Mar 2000) |
| incontinence of milk | <endocrinology> The excessive or spontaneous flow of milk, persistent secretion of milk irrespective of nursing. Origin: Gr. Rhoia = flow (18 Nov 1997) |
| incontinence of pigment | Loss of melanin from the epidermis, and accumulation in melanophages in the upper dermis; seen in several inflammatory diseases of the skin and in incontinentia pigmenti. (05 Mar 2000) |
| incontinence of urine | Inability to hold urine in the bladder. This is due to failure of voluntary control over the urinary sphincters resulting in involuntary passage of urine (wetting). (12 Dec 1998) |
| incontinence pads | Absorbent pads made of various materials used for personal hygiene usually in urinary incontinence and usually in the elderly. They may be worn as underpants or as pants liners. They are made of absorbent materials such as fluff wood pulp and hydrogel absorbent with viscose rayon, polyester, polypropylene, or polyethylene coverstock. (12 Dec 1998) |
| incontinence, rectal | Inability to hold feces in the rectum due to failure of voluntary control over the anal sphincters with involuntary passage of feces and gas. Also called faecal incontinence. (12 Dec 1998) |
| incontinence, urinary | Inability to hold urine in the bladder. This is due to failure of voluntary control over the urinary sphincters resulting in involuntary passage of urine (wetting). (12 Dec 1998) |