- [countable] the flat surface at the front of a television, computer, or other electronic device, on which you see pictures or information
- a computer screen
- a monitor with a 21-inch screen
- They were staring at the television screen.
- Move your cursor to the top of the screen.
- Tessa glanced at the phone's little screen.
- an LCD/plasma screen
- Hundreds of fans watched on giant television screens.
- on the screen The image came up on the screen for a few seconds.
- The birds appear as red dots on the radar screen.
- on screen Information can be viewed on screen or printed out.
- the screen display
- The system was designed with a menu bar at the bottom of the screen.
Extra ExamplesTopics TV, radio and newsa2, Computersa2- I sat gazing at the blank screen, trying to think of something to write.
- The screen flickered, and then everything went dark.
- A news bulletin flashed across the screen.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- giant
- huge
- …
- fill
- be glued to
- gaze at
- …
- show
- flash
- flicker
- …
- saver
- image
- resolution
- …
- on (the) screen
- go black
- go blank
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
- [countable] the large flat surface that films or pictures are shown on
- a cinema/movie screen
- an eight-screen cinema
- The movie will be coming to your screens shortly.
- This film should keep you glued to the screen (= unable to stop watching) for two hours.
- The film hits cinema screens in November.
- The film demands to be seen on a big screen.
Extra ExamplesTopics Film and theatrea2- The star's face filled the screen.
- the greatest comic actor ever to grace a movie screen
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- cinema
- movie
- big
- …
- appear on
- grace
- bring something to
- …
- adaptation
- version
- actor
- …
- off screen
- on (the) screen
- stage and screen
- (often the screen)[singular, uncountable] films or television in general
- He has adapted the play for the screen.
- on screen Some actors never watch themselves on screen.
- His face never appears on screen.
- She was a star of stage and screen (= plays and films).
- a screen actor
- She has great screen presence (= she makes a good impression on screen).
- He made his screen debut in 1954 as a stable boy.
- the screen adaptation (= film) of John Steinbeck's novel East of Eden
Extra Examples- De Niro is only given a few minutes of screen time.
- Henry James's novel was brought to the screen by director James Ivory.
- Marilyn Monroe's first screen appearance
- Neil Simon's screen adaptation of his hit stage play
- She is remembered mainly for her performances on screen.
- She shares the screen with Nicole Kidman.
- The film features screen legends James Stewart and Grace Kelly.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- cinema
- movie
- big
- …
- appear on
- grace
- bring something to
- …
- adaptation
- version
- actor
- …
- off screen
- on (the) screen
- stage and screen
- [countable] the data or images shown on a computer screen
- Press the F1 key to display a help screen.
- Can you do a printout of this screen for me?
- I posted the screen grab online.
- [countable] a tall, flat piece of furniture or equipment that is fixed to a wall, etc. or that can be moved to divide a room or to keep one area hidden or separate
- The nurse put a screen around the bed.
- A wooden screen hid one corner of the room.
- She went behind the screen and changed into the ballet costume.
Extra Examples- His desk was discreetly placed behind a screen.
- The room was divided by a folding screen.
- There is a screen between the two beds.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- folding
- privacy
- security
- …
- put up
- door
- window
- behind a/the screen
- screen between
- [countable] something that prevents somebody from seeing or being aware of something, or that protects somebody/something
- screen (of something) We planted a screen of tall trees.
- A screen of bodyguards protected the President.
- behind a screen of something (figurative) All the research was conducted behind a screen of secrecy.
- [countable] (especially North American English) a wire or plastic net that is held in a frame and fastened on a window, or a door, to let in air but keep out insects
- Do you have screens on your windows?
- [countable] a wood or stone structure in a church, that partly separates the main area from the altar or choir see also rood screenTopics Buildingsc2 see also silk screen
- [countable] a system of checking a person or thing to find out whether or not something, typically a disease, is present
- You should get a health screen every couple of years.
- Candidates for this position must be able to pass a drug screen.
of TV/computer
films/movies/TV
piece of furniture
for hiding/protecting something/somebody
on window/door
in church
check
Word OriginMiddle English: shortening of Old Northern French escren, of Germanic origin.
Idioms
See screen in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee screen in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishon/off the radar (screen)
- used to say that people’s attention is on or not on something
- The issue of terrorism is back on the radar screen.
- Since the scandal broke, all other issues seem to have disappeared off the radar screen as far as the media is concerned.
Check pronunciation:
screen