screen

noun

• 1a fixed or movable upright partition used to divide a room, to give shelter from drafts, heat, or light, or to provide concealment or privacy.
• a thing providing concealment or protection:his jeep was discreetly parked behind a screen of trees figurativethe article is using science as a screen for unexamined prejudice
• Military a detachment of troops or ships detailed to cover the movements of the main body.
• [often with modifier] Architecture a partition of carved wood or stone separating the nave of a church from the chancel, choir, or sanctuary. See also rood screen.
• a frame with fine wire netting used in a window or doorway to keep out mosquitoes and other flying insects: [as modifier]:a screen door
• a part of an electrical or other instrument that protects it or prevents it from causing electromagnetic interference.
• Electronics (also screen grid) a grid placed between the control grid and the anode of a valve to reduce the capacitance between these electrodes.

• 2the surface of a cathode ray tube or similar electronic device, especially that of a television, VDT, or monitor, on which images and data are displayed.
• a blank, typically white or silver surface on which a photographic image is projected:the world’s largest movie screen
• (the screen) movies or television; the motion-picture industry:she’s a star of the stage as well as the screen
• the data or images displayed on a computer screen:pressing the F1 key at any time will display a help screen
• 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 halftone reproduction.

• 4a large sieve or riddle, especially one for sorting substances such as grain or coal into different sizes.

verb

• 1conceal, protect, or shelter (someone or something) with a screen or something forming a screen:her hair swung across to screen her face a high hedge screened all of the front from passersby
• (screen something off) separate something from something else with or as if with a screen:an area had been screened off as a waiting room
• protect (someone) from something dangerous or unpleasant:in my country, a man of my rank would be screened completely from any risk of attack
• prevent from causing or protect from electromagnetic interference:ensure that your microphone leads are properly screened from hum pickup

• 2show (a movie or video) or broadcast (a television program):the show is to be screened by HBO later this year

• 3test (a person or substance) for the presence or absence of a disease or contaminant:outpatients were screened for cervical cancer
• check on or investigate (someone), typically to ascertain whether they are suitable for or can be trusted in a particular situation or job:all prospective presidential candidates would have to be screened by the committee
• evaluate or analyze (something) for its suitability for a particular purpose or application:only one percent of rain forest plants have been screened for medical use
• (screen someone/something out) exclude someone or something after evaluation or investigation:anti-spam software can screen out large amounts of unwanted e-mail

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

• 5 Printing project (a photograph or other image) through a transparent ruled plate so as to be able to reproduce it as a halftone.