English Reference
noun

windshield

n.
US /ˈwɪndˌʃiɫd/ UK /wˈɪndʃiːld/ wind·shield UK spelling windshields

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate American English

    the large glass window at the front of a car, truck, or bus.

    a transparent screen of glass or plastic at the front of a vehicle to protect the driver and passengers.

    Simple

    A small stone hit the windshield while I was driving on the highway.

    In context

    The heavy rain made it difficult to see through the windshield, even with the wipers set to their maximum speed.

    Usage

    In British English, this is almost always called a 'windscreen'.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Technical

    a foam or mesh cover for a microphone that stops wind noise.

    a protective cover for a microphone designed to minimize wind noise and plosive sounds during recording.

    Simple

    The reporter put a fuzzy windshield on the mic before starting the outdoor interview.

    In context

    Without a proper windshield, the audio recording was ruined by the gusty conditions at the summit.

    pop filterwindscreen
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    a pointed cover on the front of a large bullet to help it fly faster.

    an aerodynamic fairing attached to the nose of a projectile to reduce air resistance during flight.

    Simple

    The shell was fitted with a metal windshield to improve its range.

    In context

    Engineers designed a lightweight windshield for the armor-piercing rounds to ensure a more stable ballistic trajectory.

    ballistic cap

From wind + shield.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated