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screen Definition

screen (skrēn)

noun

    1. a light, movable, covered frame or series of frames hinged together, serving as a portable partition to separate, conceal, shelter, or protect
    2. any partition or curtain serving such a purpose
  2. anything that functions to shield, protect, or conceal a smoke screen
  3. a coarse mesh of wire, etc., used to sift out finer from coarser parts, as of sand or coal; sieve
  4. a system for screening or separating different types of persons, etc.
  5. a frame covered with a mesh, as of wire or plastic, used to keep insects out, serve as a barrier, etc. as on a window
    1. a flat, reflective or translucent surface, as a matte white sheet or one of beaded vinyl, upon which films, slides, etc. are projected
    2. the film industry or art
  7. the surface area of a television set, personal computer, radar receiver, etc. on which light patterns are formed
  8. any protective military formation, as of troops or ships
  9. ☆ Basketball an offensive maneuver or play in which a stationary player blocks or impedes the movement of a defensive player
  10. ☆ Football screen pass
  11. Photoengraving in the halftone process, a set of two glass plates cemented together so that parallel lines engraved in one plate are at right angles to the lines of the other plate
  12. Physics a device used as a shield to prevent interference of some sort
  13. ☆ Psychoanalysis a form of concealment, as a person in a dream who stands for another or others with whom he has some characteristics in common

Etymology: ME skrene, sieve, curtain < OFr escren < Gmc, as in OHG scerm (Ger shirm), guard, protection, screen < IE base *(s)ker-, to cut > shear, score

transitive verb

  1. to separate, conceal, shelter, or protect, with or as with a screen
  2. to provide with a screen or screens
  3. to sift through a coarse mesh so as to separate finer from coarser parts
    1. to interview or test so as to separate according to skills, personality, aptitudes, etc.
    2. to separate in this way: usually with out
    1. to project (pictures, etc.) upon a screen, as with a film or slide projector
    2. to show (a film, etc.) to critics, the public, etc.

intransitive verb

to be screened or suitable for screening, as in films

screen Related Forms

screen′·able adjective screen′er noun screen′·less adjective

screen Synonyms

screen

n.

  1. A concealment

    cloak, cover, covering, curtain, shield, envelope, veil, mask, shade.

  2. A protection

    partition, netting, shelter, guard, security; see also cover 1, protection 2.

  3. A surface on which images are projected

    silver screen, movie screen, film screen, television screen, tube, TV screen.

screen Synonyms

screen

v.

  1. To hide

    veil, conceal, mask; see hide 1.

  2. To choose

    select, eliminate, sift; see choose 1.

screen Usage Examples

Object

mammography: Screening mammography and public health policy: the need for perspective.

Converse of object

  • glaze: These patterns of light will be visible through the glazed screens to the square drawing the eye into the interior.
  • fill: Hitting the ' square ' icon will enlarge the window to fill the whole screen.

Adjective modifier

  • big: The big screen will remain for major sporting events, however.
  • blank: The failure is listed as " blank screen " .
  • giant: At-Bristol is the only theater to play Open Season in giant screen 3D format across the South West.
  • silver: Today it is put to good use as a temple of another kind, documenting the history of the silver screen.
  • flat: Be the envy of all your friends with one of these desirable, yet affordable flat screens.

Modifies a noun

  • saver: Your screen saver should now appear in the list displayed on the Screen Saver tab of the Display Properties dialog.
  • reader: Visually impaired users who cannot see the screen need a screen reader to read back what they have typed.
  • shot: We took several screen shots of all the tools involved.
  • resolution: Most web pages are designed for a screen resolution of 800 x 600 pixels.
  • magnification: The most common of these are: large print - either enlarged on paper or via a closed circuit television providing screen magnification.
  • printing: We use a variety of modern printing techniques: Foil blocking, pad printing, screen printing to create these superb advertising products.

Noun used with modifier

  • plasma: Plasma Screens For the ultimate ' wow ' factor, you've got to get one of these.
  • touch: The touch screen Sudoku also has the option to.. .
  • computer: They might range from a single computer screen to a traditional painting room.
  • TV: Little Britain is the funniest thing to hit our TV screens in recent years.
  • rood: Parker's drawing of the rood screen reveals its sophistication.
  • projection: Make sure you are speaking to your audience, not to the floor, ceiling, or projection screen.