shield

Universal Words noun, verb noun 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