protest

verb

1. (intransitive)To make a strong objection.

   “How dare you, I protest!”

   “The public took to the streets to protest over the planned change to the law.”

   “As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish, but I would not go out of my way to protest against it. My servant is, so far as I am concerned, welcome to as many votes as he can get. I would very gladly make mine over to him if I could.”

   “U.S. and European protested against Spanish conduct in Cuba.”

   “On November 29 1952, a special train ran from Sunderland to Leeds for Christmas shoppers and those attending a Leeds vs. Brentford match. It caused controversy, with Sunderland traders protesting that their shops were just as good as those in Leeds.”

2. (transitive)To affirm (something).

   “I protest my innocence.”

   “I do protest and declare …”

   “I will protest your cowardice.”

   “Our youth, now, emboldened with his success, resolved to push the matter farther, and ventured even to beg her recommendation of him to her father's service; protesting that he thought him one of the honestest fellows in the country, and extremely well qualified for the place of a gamekeeper, which luckily then happened to be vacant.”

   “She flashed a smile at me, and, protesting an engagement with her dentist, jauntily walked on.”

3. To object to.

   “"The gay community would love to point to Patti and say, 'She's one of us'" […] I protest the statement I have mentioned, as well as others like it. Few people I know, gay or straight, identify with the often outrageous thoughts of Patti Smith. Among other things, she's indicated in interviews that she thinks violence and rape are dandy experiences.”

4. (Canada, US, transitive)To publicly demonstrate against.

   “They protested the demolition of the school.”

5. To call as a witness in affirming or denying, or to prove an affirmation; to appeal to.

   “Fiercely [they] opposed / My journey strange, with clamorous uproar / Protesting fate supreme.”

6. (transitive)to make a solemn written declaration, in due form, on behalf of the holder, against all parties liable for any loss or damage to be sustained by non-acceptance or non-payment of (a bill or note). This should be made by a notary public, whose seal it is the usual practice to affix.
7. (obsolete, transitive)To publish; to make known.

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)A formal objection, especially one by a group.

   “They lodged a protest with the authorities.”

2. (countable, uncountable)A collective gesture of disapproval; a demonstration.

   “We held a protest in front of City Hall.”

   “All this has led to an explosion of protest across China, including among a middle class that has discovered nimbyism.”

   “Sage Ip, a 29-year-old flight attendant who cast her ballot on Sunday in the Sai Ying Pun district, said she voted in the primary because she was worried that she would never get a chance to do so again. “Voting is something that is still within our capacity. We can’t express ourselves at protests anymore.””

3. (countable, uncountable)The noting by a notary public of an unpaid or unaccepted bill.
4. (countable, uncountable)A written declaration, usually by the master of a ship, stating the circumstances attending loss or damage of ship or cargo, etc.