SCREEN | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

Middle English: shortening of Old Northern French escren, of Germanic origin

a fixed or movable upright partition used to divide a room, give shelter from draughts, heat, or light, or to provide concealment or privacy

fixed or movable upright partition

• he remained hidden behind the screen for prosecution witnesses
• a room with a red carpet and screens with elaborate decoration

a flat panel or area on an electronic device such as a television, computer, or smartphone, on which images and data are displayed

panel or area on electronic device on which images and data are displayed

• a television screen
• a computer screen
• a giant video screen

a transparent finely ruled plate or film used in half-tone reproduction.

transparent finely ruled plate or film used in half-tone reproduction

a system of checking a person or thing for the presence or absence of something, typically a disease

system of checking person or thing for presence or absence of something

• services offered by the centre include a health screen for people who have just joined the company

a detachment of troops or ships detailed to cover the movements of the main body

detachment of troops or ships detailed to cover movements of main body

• HMS Prince Leopold and HMS Prince Charles sailed for Shetland with a screen of four destroyers

a large sieve or riddle, especially one for sorting substances such as grain or coal into different sizes

large sieve

• the material retained on each sieve screen is weighed in turn

conceal, protect, or shelter (someone or something) with a screen or something forming a screen

conceal, protect, or shelter person or thing with screen

• her hair swung across to screen her face
• a high hedge screened all of the front from passers-by

show (a film or video) or broadcast (a television programme)

show film or video or broadcast

• the show is to be screened by the BBC later this year

test (a person or substance) for the presence or absence of a disease

test person or substance for presence or absence of disease

• outpatients were screened for cervical cancer

pass (a substance such as grain or coal) through a large sieve or screen, especially so as to sort it into different sizes

pass substance through large sieve or screen

• granulated asphalt—manufactured to 40 mm down or screened to 28 mm & 14 mm down

project (a photograph or other image) through a transparent ruled plate so as to be able to reproduce it as a half-tone.

project photograph or other image through transparent ruled plate so as to be able to reproduce it as half-tone