shield
94
3.5
- noun
- /ʃiːld/
:
caparazón
- The thick outer shield of the crab protects it from predators.
Examples
-
The turtle hid inside its hard shield to avoid danger.
-
Many arthropods have a natural shield that guards their soft bodies.
-
Now that is a very fine shield indeed.
-
This was a specialist little shield, little round shield, completely faced with steel.
-
The man saw it half a block away, the red shield aglow through the fog.
Fiction book (1990) -
They each have a huge helmet, a shield, and a short sword.
-
The serfs hand them each a sword and shield, then walk them to the center of the pit.
Fiction book (1996) -
Another man, older and much larger, tried to tear the shield out of Calvin's grip.
Fiction book (1996) -
In fact, hyraxes possess an umbraculum in the eye, a shield that extends from the iris into the pupil.
Academic text (2009) -
The sand-grain-sized young larva, characterized by a bulbous shield, floated freely in the sea.
Academic text (1992)
Synonyms
296
1.0
A hard outer covering that protects animals, eggs, or nuts
69
3.9
An outer covering that protects or decorates objects like bullets
20
3.4
A hard protective outer part on some animals and plants
6
8.7
A hard outer shell that protects the body of animals like crabs and turtles
1
6.3
A hard outer covering that protects animals like insects or turtles
1
9.9
An outer protective covering like skin or a shell that protects a living thing
1
2.7
An object placed over something to keep it safe from damage
A hard outer covering on some animals that protects and supports the body
A tough outer layer that protects things like suitcases or turtles from damage
An outer layer on animals or plants that keeps them safe from harm
Idioms
- Offensive
In a way that shows strong confidence and keeps others at a distance
Compounds
- Specialized
10
4.6
A layer or device that protects a spacecraft from very hot air when it returns to the atmosphere
1
6.5
A large area of very old rocks that form a high, flat land across much of eastern and central Canada
- Specialized
A large, very old high flat area in northern South America that covers parts of Venezuela, Guyana, and Brazil
A thin rubber or plastic cover that fits over a woman's nipple to help feed a baby
- Specialized
A North American fern with year-round green leathery leaves covered in pale brown scales
A water plant with round floating leaves and small flowers found in ponds and lakes
- Specialized
A family of water plants like Cabomba or Brasenia that live in still, slow water
Surface Forms
Etymology
Shield comes from an old English word scield that meant a protective cover used in battle, so animals' hard outer shells are called 'shields' because they act as strong 'protection' for the body.