screen saver
4
2.9
- noun
- /skriːn ˈseɪvər/
:
protector de pantalla
- When the computer is idle for too long, the screen saver activates to save energy and prevent burn-in.
- the use of screen savers
Examples
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What did you think of the scary screen saver?
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Why does the default screen saver look like water on the inside of the screen?
Blog text (32) -
I like being able to decide what my screen saver shows.
Blog text (24) -
It's like a living, breathing screen saver.
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It's gonna be my new screen-saver.
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The time before the screen saver starts can be decreased.
Academic text (2004) -
Just make her a nice zoo screen saver and she'll be just as happy.
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As Cheryl watched, the display blanked and the screen saver kicked in.
Fiction book (2002) -
I sat down at the computer, clicked the mouse, and the screen saver dissolved to several rows of curious symbols.
Fiction book (1998) -
Doug shrugged in resignation, swiveled toward his desk, and reset his screen saver to a boring clock display.
Fiction book (2002)
Synonyms
13
3.0
A program that shows images on the screen when you are not using the computer
How Animated
4
2.9
- Texting
12
2.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound 'screen saver' is transparently built from 'screen' (the display) and 'saver' (one that saves/protects), so a learner who knows the constituents can infer it is something that protects or preserves the screen. The specific implementation (a program that displays images when idle) may be a detail, but the basic protective/compositional meaning follows standard, cross-linguistic word-formation patterns and is readily derivable by a B1 learner.
Etymology
Screen saver started as a simple program for old monitors that could get a permanent faded picture if one image stayed too long, so the computer showed moving pictures to 'save' the screen and act as a saver. That's why a screen saver now means a program that appears and plays images when the computer is not in use.