screen

noun

1》 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.

2》 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.

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

4》 a system or act of screening for the presence or absence of something.

5》 a large sieve or riddle.

6》 Military a detachment of troops or ships detailed to cover the movements of the main body.

7》 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.

verb

1》 conceal, protect, or shelter with a screen.

    ↘protect from something dangerous or unpleasant.

2》 show (a film or video) or broadcast (a television programme).

3》 test for the presence or absence of a disease.

    ↘investigate (someone), typically to ascertain suitability for a job.

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

5》 Printing project (a photograph or other image) through a screen so as to reproduce it as a half-tone.

Derivatives

screenable adjective

screener noun

screenful noun (plural screenfuls).

screening noun

Origin

ME: shortening of Old North. Fr. escren, of Gmc origin.