I. shield 1 /ʃiːld/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: scield ]
1 .
a) a large piece of metal or leather that soldiers used in the past to protect themselves when fighting
b) a piece of equipment made of strong plastic, used by the police to protect themselves against angry crowds SYN riot shield ⇨ ↑ human shield
2 .
a) something in the shape of a shield, wide at the top and curving to a point at the bottom, that is given as a prize for winning a competition, especially a sports competition
b) a drawing or model of a shield, wide at the top and curving to a point at the bottom, that is used as a ↑ coat of arms
3 . something that protects a person or thing from harm or damage
shield against
The immune system is our body’s shield against infection.
4 . American English the small piece of metal that a police officer wears to show that they are a police officer SYN badge
II. shield 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
to protect someone or something from being harmed or damaged:
Women will often lie to shield even the most abusive partner.
shield somebody/something from somebody/something
He held up his hands, shielding his eyes from the sun.
import tariffs that shield firms from foreign competition
REGISTER
Shield is used mostly in journalism or literature. In everyday English, people usually say protect :
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He used his hands to protect his eyes from the sun.
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THESAURUS
▪ protect to keep someone or something safe from harm, damage, or illness:
Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.
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The government wants to protect the environment.
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Eating healthily helps to protect against many diseases.
▪ give/offer/provide protection to protect someone from something harmful:
Wearing a hat offers some protection from the sun.
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The drug can give protection against cancer.
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The law provides no protection.
▪ guard to protect a person, place, or object by staying near them and watching them:
Police officers guarded the entrance to the building.
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He is guarded by armed men.
▪ save to protect someone or something when they are in danger of being harmed or destroyed:
Local people are fighting to save the theatre from demolition.
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Emergency aid could save millions of people who are threatened with starvation.
▪ preserve to keep something, especially buildings or the environment, from being harmed, destroyed, or changed too much:
The organization works to preserve forests.
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There is little money for preserving historic buildings.
▪ safeguard to protect something important, such as people’s rights, interests, jobs, health etc:
The deal will safeguard 200 jobs at the factory.
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Laws should do more to safeguard the rights of victims.
▪ shield to put something in front of something else to protect it. Also used to talk about protecting people from unpleasant situations:
He lifted his hand to shield his eyes from the light.
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They thought the public should be shielded from the truth.
▪ shelter to provide a place where someone or something is protected from the weather or from danger:
The village is sheltered by a belt of trees.
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His family had sheltered Jews during the war.
▪ harbour British English , harbor American English to help and protect someone who has done something illegal, and prevent the police from finding them:
He is accused of harbouring suspected terrorists.