# screen

Pronunciation: say "SKREEN" /skɹiːn/

## Noun

1. The viewing area of an electronic device, where output is displayed.
   - Simple: The part of a phone, TV, or computer where pictures and words show up.
   - _The laptop's screen dimmed to save battery._
   - _Thousands of fans watched the replay on the giant screens around the stadium._
2. The world of film or television regarded as a medium, an art, or an industry, typically called the screen, the big screen, or the small screen.
   - Simple: Movies or television as a kind of art or business, often called the big screen or the small screen.
   - _She made her name in the theater before moving to the screen in her forties._
   - _The novel has been adapted for the big screen three times, but never for television._
3. The surface or area onto which a movie, moving picture, or slide presentation is projected.
   - Simple: The surface that a movie or set of slides is projected onto.
   - _The projector flickered before an image appeared on the screen._
   - _Old movie theaters had enormous screens that filled the wall._
7. The data and imagery shown on a computer display at a given moment.
   - Simple: Everything you see shown on a computer at one time: the words, pictures, and colors.
   - _The diagnostic screen displayed every sensor reading at once._
   - _After you enter your address, the next screen shows a summary of your order and the total cost._
8. A panel, partition, or low wall used to divide a space, hide something from view, or give shelter.
   - Simple: A panel or low wall used to divide a space, hide things from view, or provide shelter.
   - _A bamboo screen separated the dining area from the kitchen._
   - _Firefighters used a metal screen to shield themselves from the flames._
9. A material woven from fine wires, meant to stop animals or large particles from passing while letting gases, liquids, and finer particles through.
   - Simple: Woven wire material that keeps animals and large pieces out but lets air, liquids, and small pieces through.
   - _The hardware store sells copper and aluminum screen by the foot._
   - _A layer of fine screen over the vent keeps squirrels out of the attic without blocking the airflow._
11. A test or search through a sample, or many samples, for a particular target, such as a drug, an infection, or the genes behind a trait.
   - Simple: A test that checks a person or a sample for a certain thing, such as a drug or an illness.
   - _The lab ran a full screen for common allergens._
   - _Initial screens of the donor blood turned up no problems._
16. Any of the individual auditoriums in a movie theater, each one where a film is shown.
   - Simple: One of the separate rooms in a movie theater where a film is shown.
   - _The smallest screen at the complex seats only forty people._
   - _All six screens sold out for the premiere weekend._
17. Any of the distinct sections of a video game, each shown as a separate view before the player moves on.
   - Simple: One separate area of a video game that you move through before reaching the next.
   - _Clearing the final screen unlocks the bonus level._
   - _Early platform games divided each level into a grid of separate screens._
12. A framed mesh holding a stencil, through which ink is forced onto the material being printed.
   - Simple: A frame holding fine mesh used to push ink onto cloth or paper.
   - _The shop prepared a separate screen for every ink color._
   - _Ink is pushed through the screen onto the T-shirt below._
20. An offensive move in which a player positions their body to block a defender from reaching a teammate.
   - Simple: A move where a player stands in the way to stop a defender reaching a teammate.
   - _The point guard used a screen to lose his defender._
   - _Hard screens at the top of the key created open looks._
22. Ellipsis of screen pass. — Ellipsis of screen pass.
   - Simple: Short for screen pass. It is a short pass thrown behind blockers in football.
   - _He dumped the ball off on a screen as the rush closed in._
   - _The offense called a screen to beat the blitz._
23. Something that serves as a disguise or cover, hiding the real nature of a person or activity.
   - Simple: Something used to hide the truth or cover up what is really happening.
   - _The trading firm operated as a screen for a much larger smuggling network._
   - _Her cheerful manner was a screen that hid years of private grief._
24. A framed mesh of bars or wires used to sort fragments of stone by size, letting through any piece smaller than the gaps between the wires.
   - Simple: A frame holding a mesh of bars or wires that sorts stones by size, letting smaller pieces fall through.
   - _The quarry passed the crushed rock over a vibrating screen to grade it._
   - _Coarse screens separated the larger aggregate before it reached the crusher._
25. Protective netting that shields spectators from balls, bats, or other flying objects.
   - Simple: A net that keeps balls and bats from hitting people watching the game.
   - _The team extended the screen farther down the baseline last season._
   - _A line drive slammed into the screen instead of the bleachers._
13. A fine mesh of wire or plastic stretched on a frame and set into a window or doorway, letting air through while keeping insects out.
   - Simple: A frame of thin wire or plastic net in a window or door. It lets air in but keeps insects out.
   - _Dad lifted the screen out of the bedroom window and hosed off a summer's worth of dust and pollen._
   - _With the screen in place, we could leave the front door open all evening without a single mosquito getting in._

## Verb

4. To show a film or program publicly, especially in a theater or on television.
   - Simple: To show a movie or program to the public.
   - _The theater will screen the documentary next month._
   - _Organizers screened the film at three festivals before its release._
5. To examine patients or test a sample in order to detect a disease or chemical, or to assess the risk of developing a disease.
   - Simple: To test people or samples to find out if a disease or harmful substance is present.
   - _Hospitals screen pregnant women for gestational diabetes._
   - _The county lab screened every blood sample for traces of lead._
6. To vet people or items, such as job candidates, passengers, or baggage, to judge whether they are suitable, safe, or cleared to pass.
   - Simple: To look closely at people or things to decide if they are safe, good enough, or allowed to go through.
   - _Recruiters screen hundreds of applicants before sending a shortlist to the hiring manager._
   - _Every passenger was screened at the gate before boarding the overnight flight._
10. To shelter or conceal something by covering or shielding it from view or harm.
   - Simple: To hide or protect something by putting cover in front of it.
   - _Thick curtains screen the room from prying eyes._
   - _A tall fence screens the pool from the neighbors' view._
14. To check the source or subject of a phone call before deciding whether to answer it.
   - Simple: To check who is calling or what a call is about before deciding whether to answer the phone.
   - _He let the machine pick up so he could screen the call._
   - _She screened the call and let it go to voicemail._
15. To remove or censor information so that it cannot be seen, hiding the facts.
   - Simple: To hide or remove information so that people cannot see it.
   - _Wartime censors screened every letter the soldiers sent home, blacking out any detail that might reveal where their unit was based._
   - _Before the archive is opened, a review board will screen the files and remove the names of anyone still living._
18. To fit something with a screen, such as a window, porch, or open vent.
   - Simple: To put a screen on or around something, such as a window or porch.
   - _The owners screened the veranda so they could dine outside without insects._
   - _Builders screen the vents to stop birds from nesting inside._
19. To filter material by passing it through a mesh, separating larger pieces from smaller ones.
   - Simple: To pass something through a mesh to take out the bigger pieces.
   - _Builders screen the gravel to separate fine particles from coarse ones._
   - _The plant screened the crushed rock before mixing the concrete._
21. To position oneself so as to block a defender from reaching a teammate.
   - Simple: To stand in the way and block a defender so a teammate can get free.
   - _The forward stepped up to screen the on-ball defender._
   - _She screened at the top of the key to free the shooter._

## Noun

26. A large scarf, worn draped over the shoulders or about the neck. *(archaic, Scotland)*
   - Simple: A large scarf worn around the neck or shoulders.

## Other meanings

- (verb) To search chemical libraries using a computational method in order to find compounds that might bind to a given biological target, such as a protein.
- (noun) A large panel of canvas, wood or other material, white or dark to contrast with the ball, set on the boundary opposite the batsman so the ball stands out clearly.
- (noun) A group of less-valuable vessels traveling with a more valuable ship in order to protect it.

## Origin

This word comes from Middle English scren, from Anglo-Norman escren (a firescreen), from Old French escren, which came through Middle Dutch scherm from Proto-Germanic *skirmiz ("fur, shelter, covering, screen") and ultimately Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- ("to cut, divide"). It is related to Dutch scherm and German Schirm. An alternative account instead derives the Old French form from an Old Dutch word meaning "barrier."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/screen (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).