shielder

shield  (shld)

n.

1. A broad piece of armor made of rigid material and strapped to the arm or carried in the hand for protection against hurled or thrusted weapons.

2. A person or thing that provides protection.

3. A protective device or structure, as:

a. A steel sheet attached to an artillery piece to protect gunners from small-arms fire and shrapnel.

b. Physics A wall or housing of concrete or lead built around a nuclear reactor to prevent the escape of radiation.

c. Electronics A structure or arrangement of metal plates or mesh designed to protect a piece of electronic equipment from electrostatic or magnetic interference.

d. A pad worn, as at the armpits, to protect a garment from perspiration.

e. A sanitary napkin.

4. Zoology A protective plate or similar hard outer covering; a scute or scutellum.

5. Something that resembles a shield, as:

a. An escutcheon.

b. A decorative emblem that often serves to identify an organization or a government.

c. A police officer's badge.

6. Geology The ancient, stable, interior layer of continents composed of primarily Precambrian igneous or metamorphic rocks. Also called continental shield.

v. shield·ed, shield·ing, shields

v.tr.

1. To protect or defend with or as if with a shield; guard. See Synonyms at defend.

2. To cover up; conceal.

v.intr.

To act or serve as a shield or safeguard.

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[Middle English sheld, from Old English scield; see skel-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

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shielder n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

shielder - a person who cares for persons or property defender, guardian, protector admonisher, monitor, reminder - someone who gives a warning so that a mistake can be avoided bodyguard, escort - someone who escorts and protects a prominent person paladin, champion, fighter, hero - someone who fights for a cause chaperon, chaperone - one who accompanies and supervises a young woman or gatherings of young people custodian, keeper, steward - one having charge of buildings or grounds or animals fire fighter, fire-eater, firefighter, fireman - a member of a fire department who tries to extinguish fires foster parent, foster-parent - a person who acts as parent and guardian for a child in place of the child's natural parents but without legally adopting the child guard - a person who keeps watch over something or someone keeper - someone in charge of other people; "am I my brother's keeper?" law officer, lawman, peace officer - an officer of the law patron saint - a saint who is considered to be a defender of some group or nation peacekeeper - someone who keeps peace; "she's the peacekeeper in that family" preserver - someone who keeps safe from harm or danger tribune - (ancient Rome) an official elected by the plebeians to protect their interests watchdog - a guardian or defender against theft or illegal practices or waste; "she is the global watchdog for human rights abuses"