shield

The word “shield” means a piece of protective armour carried in the hand or on the arm to block blows or weapons. In plain terms, something (or someone) that blocks harm, whether it is a physical piece of armour or a figurative form of protection.

“Shield” is pronounced SHEELD (/ˈʃild/ in IPA).

Here is “shield” used in a sentence: “The knight raised his shield to block the arrow.”

Words with a similar meaning to “shield” include bathroom.

Depending on how it is used, “shield” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “shield” comes from Old English. 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.

“Shield” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Shield” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a piece of protective armour carried in the hand or on the arm to block blows or weapons.

A shield is a separate piece of protective armour carried in the hand or strapped to the arm to block blows and weapons. Armour, more broadly, is worn on the body itself, while a shield is a mobile barrier you hold and manoeuvre to intercept incoming attacks.

Beyond the physical object, 'shield' often means anything that protects or defends against harm, danger, or influence, as in a 'shield against criticism' or a 'human shield'. In this figurative sense it works as both a noun and a verb, as in 'to shield someone from bad news'.

Common collocations include 'shield against', 'shield from', 'protective shield', and 'human shield'. As a verb, you typically shield someone or something 'from' a threat, danger, or unwanted influence.

They overlap but differ in nuance. 'Protect' is a broad, general verb for keeping something safe, while 'shield' suggests placing a specific barrier between someone and a threat, emphasising the act of blocking or deflecting rather than general safekeeping.