screening
- 01 B1 Intermediate
an occasion when a film is shown to an audience.
the act of projecting a motion picture or broadcasting a television programme for an audience.
Simple“The cinema is holding a special screening of the classic movie tonight.”
In context“The documentary received its first public screening at the international film festival, followed by a lengthy discussion with the director.”
UsageOften used with 'of' to indicate the film being shown.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a test to check for a disease or health problem before symptoms appear.
the systematic testing of an asymptomatic population to detect a specific disease or condition at an early stage.
Simple“Regular health screening can help find problems before they become serious.”
In context“The government launched a national screening programme to identify citizens at high risk for cardiovascular disease.”
UsageOften functions as an uncountable noun or as a modifier in compound nouns like 'cancer screening'.
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
the process of checking people to see if they are suitable for a job or safe to enter a place.
the evaluation or vetting of individuals or objects to determine suitability, security risk, or quality.
Simple“Airport security involves the screening of all passengers and their bags.”
In context“The recruitment agency performs a rigorous screening of all candidates before recommending them to the client.”
UsageCommonly used in security and human resources contexts.
- 04 C1 Advanced
a wire or plastic mesh used to cover windows or doors to keep insects out.
a material consisting of a mesh of wire or plastic, typically used in the construction of screens for windows and doors.
Simple“We need to replace the screening on the back door because it has a hole.”
In context“The porch was enclosed with fine bronze screening to provide a bug-free environment while allowing the breeze to pass through.”
Teacher's tipIn British English, people are more likely to say 'mesh' or 'netting' for the material itself.
“Air India is to immediately test all its pilots for banned substances after the incident, expanding on existing rules that require at least 10% of pilots to undergo random screening.”
“Some doctors say this causes unnecessary anxiety and that patients should only rely on national screening programmes through the NHS.”
From screen + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.