screen

A2 Topic:Technology & Computing

US /skɹiːn/ See IPA manual

Freq #2514

Meanings

1

noun
The flat surface of a TV, computer, or phone on which images appear.

He spends hours staring at his computer screen.
2

noun
A flat upright object used to divide a room or hide something from view.

A folding screen separated the two halves of the room.
3

verb
To show a film or programme in a cinema or on television.

The cinema will screen the new film next week.
4

verb
To test someone for a disease or check them for something.

Doctors screen the blood for infection before it is used.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 noun · a flat upright object used... cover

4 verb · to test someone for a... test

Word family

Forms screenedscreens

Derived forms screened-inscreener

Related forms skirmish

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Etymology

From Middle English scren, screne (“windscreen, firescreen”), from Anglo-Norman escren (“firescreen, the tester of a bed”), Old French escren, escrein, escran (modern French écran (“screen”)), from Middle Dutch scherm, from Old Dutch skirm, from Proto-West Germanic *skirmi, from Proto-Germanic *skirmiz (“fur, shelter, covering, screen”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to cut, divide”). Cognate with Dutch scherm (“screen”), German Schirm (“screen”). Doublet of scherm. An alternative etymology derives Old French escren, escran from Old Dutch *scranc (“barrier”) (compare Middle Dutch schranc…

*(s)ker- Proto-Indo-European scren Middle English escren Old French scherm Middle Dutch skirm odt *skirmi Proto-West Germanic *skirmiz Proto-Germanic *scranc odt *skrank Proto-West Germanic *skrankaz Proto-Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Technology & Computing Film & Television

External links

# screen

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /skɹiːn/
**Frequency rank:** 2514

## Meanings
1. The flat surface of a TV, computer, or phone on which images appear.
2. A flat upright object used to divide a room or hide something from view.
3. To show a film or programme in a cinema or on television.
4. To test someone for a disease or check them for something.

## Examples
- He spends hours staring at his computer screen.
- A folding screen separated the two halves of the room.
- The cinema will screen the new film next week.
- Doctors screen the blood for infection before it is used.

## Derived Forms
- screened-in
- screener

## Related Forms
- skirmish

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *(s)ker-
- Root: scren
- Root: escren
- Root: scherm
- Root: skirm
- Root: *skirmi
- Root: *skirmiz
- Root: *scranc
- Root: *skrank
- Root: *skrankaz

## Etymology
From Middle English scren, screne (“windscreen, firescreen”), from Anglo-Norman escren (“firescreen, the tester of a bed”), Old French escren, escrein, escran (modern French écran (“screen”)), from Middle Dutch scherm, from Old Dutch skirm, from Proto-West Germanic *skirmi, from Proto-Germanic *skirmiz (“fur, shelter, covering, screen”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to cut, divide”). Cognate with Dutch scherm (“screen”), German Schirm (“screen”). Doublet of scherm. An alternative etymology derives Old French escren, escran from Old Dutch *scranc (“barrier”) (compare Middle Dutch schranc…

## AI Etymology
Screen is from Middle English scren, screne (“windscreen, firescreen”), from Anglo-Norman escren (“firescreen, the tester of a bed”), Old French escren, escrein, escran (modern French écran (“screen”)), from Middle Dutch scherm, from Old Dutch skirm, from Proto-West Germanic *skirmi, from Proto-Germanic *skirmiz (“fur, shelter, covering, screen”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to cut, divide”). Cognate with Dutch scherm (“screen”), German Schirm (“screen”). Doublet of scherm. Important forms in the word's history include Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker-, Middle English scren, xno escren, Old French escren, Middle Dutch scherm, odt skirm, Proto-West Germanic *skirmi, and related intermediate forms. In current use it includes senses such as The flat surface of a TV, computer, or phone on which images appear and A flat upright object used to divide a room or hide something from view.

## Topics
- Technology & Computing
- Film & Television

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