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\ ˈshēld 
\
\Definition of shield
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : a broad piece of defensive armor carried on the arm
2 : one that protects or defends : defense
3 : dress shield
4a : a device or part that serves as a protective cover or barrier
b : a protective structure (such as a carapace, scale, or plate) of some animals
6 : the Precambrian nuclear mass of a continent that is surrounded and sometimes covered by sedimentary rocks
7 : something resembling a shield: such as
a : apothecium
b : a police officer's badge
c : a decorative or identifying emblem
shield
verbshielded; shielding; shields
Definition of shield (Entry 2 of 2)
1a : to protect with or as if with a shield : provide with a protective cover or shelter
b : to cut off from observation : hide
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Synonyms & Antonyms for shield
Synonyms: Noun
- aegis
- (also egis),
- ammunition,
- armor,
- buckler,
- cover,
- defense,
- guard,
- protection,
- safeguard,
- screen,
- security,
- wall,
- ward
Synonyms: Verb
Antonyms: Verb
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Examples of shield in a Sentence
Noun
the heat shield on a space shuttle
the slightly built boy used his sharp wit as a shield against the school's bullies Verb
celebrities who are shielded by a cluster of bodyguards whenever they appear in public
she shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Somehow, the Democrats had to attract attention and crack the shield of unreality, to be both riveting and solemn, to find a genre that would match the story and get it across to the audience.
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Emily Nussbaum, The New Yorker, "The Search for Pizzazz at the Impeachment Reality Show," 21 Nov. 2019 Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds — and touch nothing in the lavatory afterward without the shield of a paper towel.
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Kerri Westenberg, chicagotribune.com, "Easy way to stay healthy on airplanes," 16 Oct. 2019 In a waterfront summer house in Massachusetts, the shield and horns of a Triceratops skull greet weekend guests in the foyer, and a 17-foot-long mosasaur, a giant lizard of the sea, hangs from the living room ceiling.
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Richard Conniff, National Geographic, "Inside the homes (and minds) of fossil collectors," 25 Sep. 2019 The midfield shield of Biling and Jefferson Lerma was also vital and could be a platform for all their attacking talent.
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SI.com, "Southampton 1-3 Bournemouth: Report, Ratings & Reaction to Cherries' First Away Win Over Saints," 20 Sep. 2019 Among other radiodonts, the head shield of Cambroraster covers much more of the body than other species, University of Lausanne paleontologist Allison Daley says.
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Riley Black, Smithsonian, "Prehistoric Ocean Predator Resembles a Large and Vicious Horseshoe Crab," 31 July 2019 One of the group's facilitators was attorney Gabriel Zendejas-Chavez, who was able to carry messages to the gang members while operating under the shield of attorney-client privilege, the indictment said.
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Crimesider Staff, CBS News, "Feds: Mexican Mafia runs California jails like an "illegal government"," 24 May 2018 From Switzerland to the United States to Britain and the European Union, the shields of secrecy that have protected criminal transactions are beginning to fall like dominoes.
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Laurent Belsie, The Christian Science Monitor, "Disclosure in the Caymans: Global walls of financial secrecy are falling," 3 May 2018 With the guards listening, Finn reveals that Phasma was the one who lowered the shields of the Starkiller Base.
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Matt Miller, Esquire, "This Deleted Scene Reveals Captain Phasma's Fate in Star Wars: The Last Jedi," 8 Mar. 2018 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The Supreme Court is shielding President Trump's financial records from House Democrats for now.
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CBS News, "Supreme Court stops disclosure of Trump's financial records to Congress for now," 25 Nov. 2019 And officers’ identical badges cannot shield the bad blood that sometimes exists among them.
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John Eligon, New York Times, "A White Officer Shoots a Black Colleague, Deepening a Racial Divide," 24 Nov. 2019 In the event of a leak, the batteries must be shielded from water at all costs.
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Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Introducing Japan's Lithium Ion Battery-Powered Submarine," 14 Nov. 2019 This Obama-era program shields around 700,000 to 800,000 people from deportation.
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Aviva Rutkin, The Conversation, "DACA argued at the Supreme Court: 6 essential reads," 12 Nov. 2019 Those watery pits are deep, near sandy beaches and reefs, and are shielded from the wider sea, allowing them to take on centuries’ worth of sediment with minimal disruption and interruptions.
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Robin George Andrews, National Geographic, "The ghosts of ancient hurricanes live in Caribbean blue holes," 11 Nov. 2019 The actors both starred in the record-breaking Marvel film, but only Evans initially got to read the pivotal scene in which his character, Captain America, passes the torch — err, shield — to Mackie’s Falcon.
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Rachel Yang, EW.com, "Chris Evans accidentally spoiled the Avengers: Endgame ending for Anthony Mackie," 5 Nov. 2019 Lead blocker/fullback Andy Janovich shielded safety Jermaine Whitehead.
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Ryan O’halloran, The Denver Post, "Rating the Broncos: Lindsay’s 30-yard touchdown produced by four key blocks," 4 Nov. 2019 Yet only a tiny share of its members’ waters is shielded.
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The Economist, "Asia’s coral faces a deadly onslaught," 24 Oct. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shield.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for shield
shield
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of shield
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a large piece of metal, wood, etc., carried by someone (such as a soldier or police officer) for protection
: something that defends or protects someone or something
US : a police officer's badge
shield
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of shield (Entry 2 of 2)
: to cover and protect (someone or something)
: to prevent (someone or something) from being seen
See the full definition for shield in the English Language Learners Dictionary
shield
noun\ ˈshēld \
\Kids Definition of shield
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : a broad piece of armor carried (as by a soldier) for protection
2 : something that serves as a defense or protection
the heat shield on a space shuttle
shield
verbshielded; shielding
Kids Definition of shield (Entry 2 of 2)
: to cover or screen (as from danger or harm) : provide with protection
Shield your eyes from the glare.
shield
noun\ ˈshēld \
\Medical Definition of shield
: a structure, device, or part that serves as a protective cover or barrier
a lead shield to protect against X-rays
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Time Traveler for shield
The first known use of shield was before the 12th century
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