screen

Definition

  • noun: the usually flat part of a television or computer monitor that shows the images or text
  • noun: a protective or ornamental device (as a movable partition) shielding an area from heat or drafts or from view
  • verb: to examine (people or things) in order to decide if they are suitable for a particular purpose
  • verb: to guard from injury or danger
  • often used before another noun

Examples

  • He usually 'screens his (telephone/phone) calls'. [=he usually lets his answering machine answer his phone so that he can hear who is calling before he decides to talk to whoever it is]

  • someone who 'screens' luggage at the airport [=someone who examines the luggage of airplane passengers in order to make sure that nothing dangerous is brought onto an airplane]

  • A committee will 'screen' candidates for the job, but the final hiring decision will be made by Ms. Brown.

Movie clips

Movie quotes

  • (..) Everything you create is used to destroy. Yeah... We call it human nature. You learned about that on your screen. l'm not finished, yet. l'm up to ''V''. ''V'' is good... Some very good words in ''V''. Like what? (..)
    1997 The Fifth Element
  • (..) of an old opera house. But who cares? To my right, a row of ministers, more sinisters than ministers. To my left, Baby Ray, star of stage and screen. He's not going to get much out of this concert. He's stone-deaf! To who? And here, we have Roy Von Baker, king of laser ball! (..)
    1997 The Fifth Element