This is the 884th most frequent Italian word.
guardia
"Guardia" in Italian means "guard," "watch," or "custody" in English.
In this sentence, "guardia" is used as a noun, referring to a person who is guarding or keeping watch.
La guardia della torre osservava attentamente.
The guard of the tower was observing attentively.
Here, "guardia" is used metaphorically as a state of vigilance or alertness.
Ha alzato la guardia non appena ha sentito un rumore.
He raised his guard as soon as he heard a noise.
In this usage, "guardia" is part of the expression "stare in guardia," meaning to be cautious or alert.