| shield | |
| 1. n. Anything that protects or defends; defense; shelter; protection. | |
| 2. n. A broad piece of defensive armor, carried on the arm, formerly in general use in war, for the protection of the body. | |
| 3. n. (figurative) One who protects or defends. | |
| 4. n. (lichenology) In lichens, a hardened cup or disk surrounded by a rim and containing the fructification, or asci. | |
| 5. n. (mining) A framework used to protect workmen in making an adit under ground, and capable of being pushed along as excavation progresses. | |
| 6. n. (science fiction) A field of energy that protects or defends. | |
| 7. n. A shape like that of a shield; usually, an inverted triangle with sides that curve inward to form a pointed bottom, commonly used for police identifications and company logos. | |
| 8. n. (heraldry) The escutcheon or field on which are placed the bearings in coats of arms. | |
| 9. n. (Scotland) A toilet seat. | |
| 10. n. A spot resembling, or having the form of a shield. | |
| 11. n. (obsolete) A coin, the old French crown, or écu, having on one side the figure of a shield. | |
| 12. n. (transport) A sign or symbol, usually containing numbers and sometimes letters, identifying a highway route. | |
| 13. n. (colloquial, law enforcement) A police badge. | |
| 14. n. (geology) A large expanse of exposed stable Precambrian rock. | |
| 15. n. (geology) A wide and relatively low-profiled volcano, usually composed entirely of lava flows. | |
| 16. n. (figuratively) A place with a toilet seat: an outhouse; a lavatory. | |
| 17. v. To protect, to defend. | |
| 18. v. (electricity) to protect from the influence of | |
