shield

Pluralshields

Formsshields, shielding, shielded

1. 1
   battle armornouncountable

   A wide piece of armor held in one hand to protect the body, used in wars in the past.

   The knight held up his shield to stop the arrow.

   At the museum, we saw an old wooden shield that a soldier once carried into battle.

   Note
2. 2
   protectverbtransitive or intransitive

   To keep someone or something safe from harm.

   She used her hand to shield her eyes from the sun.

   A good coat shields against wind and rain.

   UsageSay shield someone from danger.

   Similarprotect, guard, screen, shelter, defend

   Oppositeexpose

   Note
3. 3
   defensenouncountable

   Something that keeps a person or thing safe from harm or danger.

   The tall hedge was a good shield against the cold wind.

   Her savings were a shield when she lost her job.

   UsageSay a shield against the cold.

   Similarprotection, safeguard, barrier, defence, buffer

   Note
4. 4
   energy fieldnouncountable

   In science fiction, a layer of energy that protects a spaceship or a person from harm.

   The spaceship's shields stopped the laser blasts.

   The shield around the space station kept the meteors out.

   UsagePeople often say shields for one field.

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5. 5
   verbtransitive

   To protect a wire or machine so that nearby electricity or magnets do not affect it.

   You need to shield the cable, or the speakers will buzz.

   The scanner room is shielded so that phones cannot cause problems.

   UsageSay shielded cable.

   Similarscreen

   Note
6. 6
   coat of armsnouncountable

   In a coat of arms, the main shape that the pictures and symbols are placed on.

   The shield on the family's coat of arms shows a gold lion on a red background.

   In the school's coat of arms, the shield is split into four parts.

   Similarescutcheon

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7. 7
   verbUKintransitive

   To keep yourself safe by staying under cover or away from danger.

   My nan has to shield at home because she gets ill very easily.

   While he was shielding, his neighbors brought him food every week.

   UsageSay someone is shielding.

   Similarisolate, shelter

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8. 8
   shaped marknouncountable

   A mark or spot shaped like a shield.

   The male bird has a black shield on its white chest.

   Each of the moth's gray wings has a dark shield near the tip.

9. 9
   ancient rocknouncountable

   A huge area of very old, stable rock that lies bare at the earth's surface.

   Much of northern Canada sits on a huge shield of ancient rock.

   Glaciers scraped the shield bare and left many small lakes behind.

   Note

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