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

  • (..) Boo only comes out at night when you're asleep and it's pitch-dark. When you wake up at night, you can hear him. Once I heard him scratchin' on our screen door... but he was gone by the time Atticus got there. Wonder what he does in there. - Wonder what he looks like. - Well... (..)
    1962 To Kill a Mockingbird