1 a large piece of metal or leather carried by soldiers in the past to protect the body when fighting
2 = RIOTSHIELD
3 a person or thing used to protect sb/sth, especially by forming a barrier:
The gunman used the hostages as a human shield. * Water is not an effective shield against the sun's more harmful rays. * She hid her true feelings behind a shield of cold indifference.
4 a plate or screen that protects a machine or the person using it from damage or injury:
A heat shield protects the worker's hands.
5 an object in the shape of a shield, given as a prize in a sports competition, etc.
6 a drawing or model of a shield showing a COATOFARMS
7 (AmE) a police officer's BADGE
verb [VN]
1 ~ sb/sth (from sb/sth) to protect sb/sth from danger, harm or sth unpleasant:
I shielded my eyes against the glare. * The ozone layer shields the earth from the sun's ultraviolet rays. * Police believe that somebody is shielding the killer. * You can't shield her from the truth forever.
2 to put a shield around a piece of machinery, etc. in order to protect the person using it
