This is the 13257th most frequent Spanish word.
protege
A protégé; someone who is guided or supported by a more experienced person.
Here, 'protege' is used as the third-person singular present tense of 'proteger', meaning 'to protect', demonstrating its use to describe someone performing the act of protecting others.
Ella protege a sus amigos.
She protects her friends.
In this sentence, 'protege' again serves as the third-person singular present tense of 'proteger', illustrating its application to objects performing the action of protection.
El abrigo protege del frío.
The coat protects against the cold.
This is another instance of 'protege' emphasizing the importance or value someone ascribes to the objects or people being protected.