# shield

/ˈʃiɫd/ (US) · /ʃˈiːld/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shield
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. protective equipment

noun · CEFR B1

a piece of equipment used to stop someone or something from hurting you.

For teachers: a broad piece of defensive armour carried on the arm; by extension, any physical barrier designed to intercept or deflect attacks.

- The knight held up his wooden shield to block the arrows.
- Riot police formed a wall with their transparent shields to prevent the protesters from advancing toward the government building.

### 2. a shape

noun · CEFR B2

a shape that looks like a triangle with curved sides, often used for police badges or logos.

For teachers: a heraldic or geometric shape resembling a traditional shield, typically an inverted triangle with curved sides.

- The school's logo is a blue shield with a gold book in the middle.
- The family's coat of arms was meticulously engraved upon a silver shield, displayed prominently above the fireplace in the Great Hall.

### 3. geological formation

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a very large, flat area of very old, hard rock.

For teachers: a large area of exposed Precambrian crystalline igneous and high-grade metamorphic rocks that form tectonically stable areas.

- The Canadian Shield covers a huge part of North America.
- The geological survey focused on the edge of the shield, where the ancient stable rock meets younger sedimentary layers.

### 4. to protect

verb · CEFR B2

to protect someone or something from something dangerous or unpleasant.

For teachers: to protect or hide someone or something from danger, criticism, or unpleasant influences.

- She used her hand to shield her eyes from the bright sun.
- The thick concrete walls were designed to shield the laboratory equipment from external electromagnetic interference.

### 5. to stay home for health

verb · CEFR B2 · British English

to stay at home to protect yourself from a disease because you are at high risk.

For teachers: to practice extreme social distancing by remaining indoors to avoid contracting a communicable disease.

- During the pandemic, my grandfather had to shield for several months.
- Public health officials advised vulnerable citizens to continue shielding until the local infection rates had dropped significantly.

Usage: Often used as an intransitive verb in the context of public health.

## Examples

- The knight raised his heavy wooden shield.
- Sunscreen acts as a protective shield against the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays during the summer.
- The thick atmosphere of the planet serves as a natural shield, incinerating most incoming space debris before it can impact the surface.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.