The difference between Keep and Protect
When used as verbs, keep means to continue in (a course or mode of action), whereas protect means to keep safe.
Keep is also noun with the meaning: care, notice.
check bellow for the other definitions of Keep and Protect
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Keep as a verb:
To continue in (a course or mode of action); not to intermit or fall from; to uphold or maintain.
Examples:
"to keep silence;  to keep one's word;  to keep possession"
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Keep as a verb (transitive):
To hold the status of something. To maintain possession of. To maintain the condition of. To record transactions, accounts, or events in. To enter (accounts, records, etc.) in a book. To remain in, to be confined to. To restrain. To watch over, look after, guard, protect. To supply with necessities and financially support a person. To raise; to care for. To maintain (an establishment or institution); to conduct; to manage. To have habitually in stock for sale.
Examples:
"I keep a small stock of painkillers for emergencies."
"I keep my specimens under glass to protect them."
"The abundance of squirrels kept the dogs running for hours."
"I used to keep a diary."
"I keep my brother out of trouble by keeping him away from his friends and hard at work."
"May the Lord keep you from harm."
"He kept a mistress for over ten years."
"He has been keeping orchids since retiring."
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Keep as a verb (intransitive):
To hold or be held in a state. To reside for a time; to lodge; to dwell. To continue. To remain edible or otherwise usable. To remain in a state.
Examples:
"She kept to her bed while the fever lasted."
"I keep taking the tablets, but to no avail."
"Potatoes can keep if they are in a [[root cellar]]."
"Latex paint won't keep indefinitely."
"The rabbit avoided detection by keeping still."
"'Keep calm! There's no need to panic."
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Keep as a verb (obsolete):
To wait for, keep watch for.
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Keep as a verb (intransitive, cricket):
To act as wicket-keeper.
Examples:
"Godfrey Evans kept for England for many years."
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Keep as a verb (intransitive, obsolete):
To take care; to be solicitous; to watch.
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Keep as a verb (intransitive, obsolete):
To be in session; to take place.
Examples:
"School keeps today."
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Keep as a verb (transitive):
To observe; to adhere to; to fulfill; not to swerve from or violate.
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Keep as a verb (transitive, dated):
To confine oneself to; not to quit; to remain in.
Examples:
"to keep one's house, room, bed, etc."
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Keep as a verb (transitive, dated, by extension):
To visit (a place) often; to frequent.
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Keep as a noun (obsolete):
Care, notice
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Keep as a noun (historical):
The main tower of a castle or fortress, located within the castle walls.
Examples:
"synonyms: donjon"
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Keep as a noun:
The food or money required to keep someone alive and healthy; one's support, maintenance.
Examples:
"He works as a cobbler's apprentice for his keep."
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Keep as a noun:
The act or office of keeping; custody; guard; care; heed; charge.
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Keep as a noun:
The state of being kept; hence, the resulting condition; case.
Examples:
"to be in good keep'"
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Keep as a noun (obsolete):
That which is kept in charge; a charge.
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Keep as a noun (engineering):
A cap for holding something, such as a journal box, in place.
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Protect as a verb (ambitransitive):
To keep safe; to defend; to guard; to prevent harm coming to.
Examples:
"to protect a child from danger"
"This antivirus package will protect your computer from hackers."
"Condoms are designed to protect against sexually-transmitted diseases."
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Protect as a verb (travel, aviation):
To book a passenger on a later flight if there is a chance they will not be able to board their earlier reserved flight.