English Reference
Noun

shielding

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US /ˈʃiɫdɪŋ/ UK /ʃˈiːldɪŋ/ shield·ing UK spelling shieldings

n.a physical layer or barrier that protects something from harm. You use it to talk about blocking things like heat, radiation, or even viruses.

n.a physical barrier or protective layer designed to block or reduce the transmission of energy, particles, or harmful substances.


SIMPLE

The workers wear lead shielding to protect themselves from radiation.

CONTEXTUAL

Engineers added extra thermal shielding to the spacecraft to prevent it from burning up during atmospheric reentry.

COMPLEX

The effectiveness of electromagnetic shielding depends heavily on the conductivity and thickness of the material used to enclose the sensitive electronic components.

Usage

Often used in technical contexts; frequently paired with 'lead', 'thermal', or 'magnetic'.

Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field absorb this radiation, but crews heading to the Moon or Mars won’t have that protection, and no spacecraft built so far has enough shielding to stop it.

Ars Technica· 13 Aug 2026

Polish children—some as young as 2—emerged from the vehicles, blinking and shielding their eyes from the sun.

Smithsonian Magazine· 22 Jul 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated