English

Etymology

Noun

1. A physical divider intended to block an area from view.
2. A material woven from fine wires intended to block animals or large particles from passing while allowing gasses, liquids and finer particles to pass.
3. The informational viewing area of electronic output devices; the result of the output.
   • 1977, Sex Pistols, Spunk, “Problems”:

     You won't find me living for the screen

4. The viewing area of a movie, or moving picture or slide presentation
5. An offensive tactic in which a player stands so as to block a defender from reaching a teammate.
6. The protective netting which protects the audience from flying objects

   Jones caught the foul up against the screen.

7. In mining and quarries, a frame supporting a mesh of bars or wires used to classify fragments of stone by size, allowing the passage of fragments whose a diameter is smaller than the distance between the bars or wires.
8. A stencil upon a framed mesh through which paint is forced onto printed-on material; the frame with the mesh itself.
9. A collection of less-valuable vessels that travel with a more valuable one for the latter's protection.

See also

• Chinese screen
• moving screen
• screen door
• screen wall
• screened-in
• silver screen
• smokescreen
• touch screen
• screen printing

Verb

1. To filter by passing through a screen.

   Mary screened the beans to remove the clumps of gravel.

2. To remove information, or censor intellectual material from viewing

   The news report was screened because it accused the politician of wrongdoing.

3. To present publicly (on the screen).

   The news report will be screened at 11:00 tonight.

4. To fit with a screen.

   We need to screen this porch. These bugs are driving me crazy.