screen
/skriːn/- 1.
A flat surface that shows images, text, or video from a computer, phone, or television. It can also mean the glass display itself.
- The email popped up on my screen.
- Her phone screen is cracked.
- I read the report on a large screen.
- 2.
A structure that hides, protects, or separates something. It can block light, wind, or views.
- We put up a screen to block the sun.
- The screen gave the room more privacy.
- A screen hid the pipes.
To check, test, or examine someone or something carefully before deciding. It also means to protect from danger, light, or unwanted attention.
- The hospital will screen all visitors.
- They screen job applicants first.
- The trees screen the house from the road.
Adinary Nuance
Screen is broader than display or monitor. A monitor is usually the device, while a screen can mean the visible surface on a phone, TV, or computer. As a verb, screen often means to check or filter carefully, which words like watch or look at do not suggest.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- màn hình
- Spanish
- pantalla
- Chinese
- 屏幕
- Japanese
- 画面
- Korean
- 화면
Etymology
Screen comes from Old French escreen and earlier Germanic forms meaning a shield or partition. The meaning later expanded to include a display surface for images and text.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between screen and monitor?
- A monitor is the device. A screen is the visible part that shows the image.
- Is screen a noun and a verb?
- Yes. As a noun, it means a display or barrier. As a verb, it means to check or protect.
- Can I say screen my phone?
- Yes, if you mean the display surface. More often, people say phone screen.
- Is screen used in business writing?
- Yes. It is common when talking about screening applicants, data, or visitors.