screen / skrēn/ • n. 1. a fixed or movable upright partition used to divide a room, to give shelter from drafts, heat, or light, or to provide concealment or privacy. ∎  a thing providing concealment or protection: his jeep was discreetly parked behind a screen of trees | fig. the article is using science as a screen for unexamined prejudice. ∎  Mil. a detachment of troops or ships detailed to cover the movements of the main body. ∎  Archit. a partition of carved wood or stone separating the nave of a church from the chancel, choir, or sanctuary.See also rood screen. ∎  a frame with fine wire netting used in a window or doorway to keep out mosquitoes and other flying insects: [as adj.] screen door. ∎  a part of an electrical or other instrument that protects it or prevents it from causing electromagnetic interference. ∎  Electr. (also screen grid) a grid placed between the control grid and the anode of a valve to reduce the capacitance between these electrodes.2. the surface of a cathode-ray tube or similar electronic device, esp. that of a television, VDT, or monitor, on which images and data are displayed. ∎  a blank, typically white or silver surface on which a photographic image is projected: the world's largest movie screen. ∎  (the screen) movies or television; the motion-picture industry: she's a star of the stage as well as the screen. ∎  the data or images displayed on a computer screen: pressing the F1 key at any time will display a help screen. ∎  Photog. a flat piece of ground glass on which the image formed by a camera lens is focused.3. Printing a transparent, finely ruled plate or film used in halftone reproduction.4. a large sieve or riddle, esp. one for sorting substances such as grain or coal into different sizes.• v. [tr.] 1. conceal, protect, or shelter (someone or something) with a screen or something forming a screen: her hair swung across to screen her face a high hedge screened all of the front from passersby. ∎  (screen something off) separate something from something else with or as if with a screen: an area had been screened off as a waiting room. ∎  protect (someone) from something dangerous or unpleasant: in my country, a man of my rank would be screened completely from any risk of attack. ∎  prevent from causing or protect from electromagnetic interference: ensure that your microphone leads are properly screened from hum pickup.2. show (a movie or video) or broadcast (a television program): the show is to be screened by HBO later this year.3. test (a person or substance) for the presence or absence of a disease or contaminant: outpatients were screened for cervical cancer. ∎  check on or investigate (someone), typically to ascertain whether they are suitable for or can be trusted in a particular situation or job: all prospective presidential candidates would have to screened by the committee. ∎  evaluate or analyze (something) for its suitability for a particular purpose or application: only one percent of rain forest plants have been screened for medical use. ∎  (screen someone/something out) exclude someone or something after such evaluation or investigation: only those refugees who are screened out are sent back to Vietnam.4. pass (a substance such as grain or coal) through a large sieve or screen, esp. so as to sort it into different sizes.5. Printing project (a photograph or other image) through a transparent ruled plate so as to be able to reproduce it as a halftone.DERIVATIVES: screen·a·ble adj.screen·er n.screen·ful / -ˌfoŏl/ n.ORIGIN: Middle English: shortening of Old Northern French escren, of Germanic origin.