Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - ward

ward ~1 n 1 a large room in a hospital where people who need medical treatment stay  (She's in charge of three different wards. | maternity/general/geriatric etc ward (=a ward for people with a particular medical condition)) 2 BrE one of the small areas that a city has been divided into for the purpose of local elections  (- compare constituency (2)) 3 law someone, especially a child, who is under the legal protection of another person or of a law court  (a ward of court) ~2 v ward sth off phr v to do something to prevent something such as an illness, danger, or attack from harming you  (a spell to ward off evil spirits)