noun

1. 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
6. 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
4. 1. to interview or test so as to separate according to skills, personality, aptitudes, etc.
   2. to separate in this way: usually with out
5. 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