noun
shield
SHEELD
noun
1
A piece of protective armour carried in the hand or on the arm to block blows or weapons.
"The knight raised his shield to block the arrow."
"Riot police carried shields as the crowd surged forward."
2
Anything that protects or defends against harm, danger, or influence.
"The trees acted as a shield against the wind."
"Sunscreen is a shield against harmful UV rays."
3
An inverted-triangle shape used for badges, logos, or coats of arms; also, informally, a police badge.
"The detective flashed his shield at the door."
verb
1
To protect or defend someone or something from harm.
"She shielded her eyes from the bright sun."
"The company shielded its employees from the worst of the layoffs."
How to Use Shield
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething (or someone) that blocks harm, whether it is a physical piece of armour or a figurative form of protection.
Common pairings
shield someone from
raise a shield
a shield against
Word Forms
shielded past tense, shields plural, Shields plural, shields singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “shield”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The knight raised his _____ to block the arrow.
Etymology
From Old English scield ("shield"), tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to cut" or "split" — the original shields were likely cut from wood or hide.