26984 words

screen

23 definitions • 33 examples
1
a flat surface in a cinema, on a television, or as part of a computer, on which pictures or words are shown:

Examples:

Our television has a 19-inch screen.
Coming to your screens (= cinemas) shortly, "The Adventures of Robin Hood".
the screen Her ambition is to write for the screen (= for television and films).
on screen Write the letter on the computer, then you can make changes easily on screen.
2

Examples:

He's made several films for the small screen.
3

Examples:

So this is your first appearance on the big screen?
4
a vertical structure that is used to separate one area from another, especially to hide something or to protect you from something unpleasant or dangerous:

Examples:

The nurse pulled a screen around the bed so that the doctor could examine the patient in private.
screen of A screen of trees at the bottom of the garden hid the ugly factory walls.
5
an activity that is not dangerous or illegal but is used to hide something that is:

Examples:

screen for That café's just a screen for their criminal activities.
6
in American football, an occasion when the ball is thrown to a player behind the line of scrimmage (= the line on which the ball is positioned at the beginning of a period of action) who runs behind a line of other players who try to stop the defence from tackling that player:

Examples:

They set up a screen to the wide receiver, who ran for 14 yards and a first down.
The running back caught a screen pass, but was tackled before he could advance the ball.
7
in sports such as basketball and ice hockey, an occasion when a player is blocked by one opponent from approaching and stopping another opponent who has the ball or puck:

Examples:

They set up a screen for the forward, who advanced to the basket to score.
8
to test or examine someone or something to discover if there is anything wrong with him, her, or it:

Examples:

be screened for Women over 50 should be screened for breast cancer.
be screened out Completely unsuitable candidates were screened out (= tested and refused) at the first interview.
9
to delay your decision to answer the phone until you know who is calling you:

Examples:

I always screen my calls while I'm eating dinner.
10
to show or broadcast a film or television programme:

Examples:

be screened on The programme was not screened on British television.
11
to protect or hide:

Examples:

screen something from something She raised her hand to screen her eyes from the bright light.
12
to protect someone by taking the blame yourself:

Examples:

The husband says he's the murderer but we think it was his wife - he's just screening her.
13
a flat surface in a theater, on a television, or on a computer system on which pictures or words are shown:

Examples:

I spend most of the day working in front of a computer screen.
14
The screen sometimes means the movies:

Examples:

Her ambition is to write for the screen.
a screen actor/actress
15
something that blocks you from seeing what is behind it, esp. a stiff piece of material that you can stand up like part of a wall and move around:

Examples:

Jennifer has a beautiful screen decorated with Japanese art.
16
A screen is also a stiff, wire net that has very small holes and is fixed within a frame, put in windows esp. in warm weather to let in air and keep insects out.
17
to test or examine someone or something to discover if there is anything wrong with the person or thing:

Examples:

Airport security staff have to screen and check millions of bags a year.
The company president’s secretary screens all his calls (= answers them first to prevent some from getting through).
18
to show or broadcast a movie or television program:

Examples:

His new movie got rave reviews when it was screened at Cannes.
19
to block, protect, or hide someone or something with a screen:

Examples:

She raised her hand to screen her eyes from the sun.
20
a flat surface on a television or computer, or in a cinema, on which pictures or words are shown:

Examples:

a computer screen
a television/cinema screen
come up on/appear on a screen
scroll up/down a screen Scroll down to the bottom of the screen.
21
to check that someone is suitable and able to do a job by getting information about their previous jobs, personal activities, etc.:

Examples:

screen sb for sth The short-listed candidates were screened for the job.
22
to test or examine something to discover if there is anything wrong with it:

Examples:

screen sth for sth The car parts were screened for defects.
23
to show something on television or at a cinema:

Examples:

The 30-second ad was screened last night.

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