n.
- an upright partition used to divide a room, give shelter, or provide concealment.
▸a windscreen of a motor vehicle.
▸a frame with fine wire netting used to keep out flying insects.
- the surface of a cathode ray tube or similar electronic device, especially that of a television, VDU, or monitor, on which images and data are displayed.
▸a blank surface on which a photographic image is projected.
▸
(the screen)
films or television.
▸Photography a flat piece of ground glass on which the image formed by a camera lens is focused.
- Printing a transparent finely ruled plate or film used in half-tone reproduction.
- a system or act of screening for the presence or absence of something.
- a large sieve or riddle.
- Military a detachment of troops or ships detailed to cover the movements of the main body.
- a part of an electrical or other instrument which protects it from or prevents it causing electromagnetic interference.
▸
(also screen grid)
Electronics a grid placed between the control grid and the anode of a valve to reduce the capacitance between these electrodes.
v.
- conceal, protect, or shelter with a screen.
▸protect from something dangerous or unpleasant.
- show (a film or video) or broadcast (a television programme).
- test for the presence or absence of a disease.
▸investigate (someone), typically to ascertain suitability for a job.
- pass (a substance such as grain or coal) through a large sieve or riddle, especially so as to sort it into different sizes.
- Printing project (a photograph or other image) through a screen so as to reproduce it as a half-tone.
Derivative
- screenable adj.
- screener n.
- screenful n.
(pl. screenfuls)
. - screening n.
Etymology
ME: shortening of Old North. Fr. escren, of Gmc origin.