Coral reefs protect coastlines from storm surges by absorbing wave energy before it reaches the shore.
珊瑚礁通过吸收波浪能量，保护海岸线免受风暴潮的冲击，使其在到达岸边前减弱。
Scientists believe this resilience stems from a unique protein that protects the tardigrade's cellular structures when water is scarce.
From a Central Ideas and Details question · Information and Ideas
Economist Renata Silva argues that tariffs on imported steel protect domestic manufacturing jobs by making foreign steel less price-competitive.
From a Cross-Text Connections question · Craft and Structure
Economist Louis Bergman contends that tariffs on imported steel raise costs for domestic industries that use steel as a raw material, such as automakers and construction firms, potentially eliminating more jobs downstream than the tariffs protect upstream.
From a Cross-Text Connections question · Craft and Structure
Which choice best defines “protect”?
B — Keep safe. “protect” means keep safe.
Which word means “keep safe”?
B — protect. “protect” means keep safe.
protect — keep safe. In Chinese: 保护，防护.
protect is pronounced /prəˈtekt/.
Coral reefs protect coastlines from storm surges by absorbing wave energy before it reaches the shore. (珊瑚礁通过吸收波浪能量，保护海岸线免受风暴潮的冲击，使其在到达岸边前减弱。)
shield, guard, defend — all close in meaning to protect (keep safe).
endanger, expose — each the opposite of protect (keep safe).
Yes. protect is on the SAT Prep Basic list — the everyday academic words the SAT assumes you already have. The Digital SAT does not test vocabulary in isolation; words like this one are tested through Words in Context questions, where you choose the word that completes a passage most logically and precisely.
pro(before)+tect(cover)