a piece of armour, e.g. of wood, metal, or leather, carried on the arm or in the hand and used esp for warding off blows

somebody or something that protects or defends

something designed to protect people from injury from moving parts of machinery, live electrical conductors, etc

an armoured screen protecting an otherwise exposed gun

a protective structure, e.g. a carapace, scale, or plate, of some animals

a defined area on which heraldic arms are displayed; esp one that is wide at the top and rounds to a point at the bottom

something resembling a shield, e.g.:

the Precambrian central rock mass of a continent

to protect (something or somebody) with or as if with a shield; to provide with a protective cover or shelter

to prevent (somebody or something) from being seen; to hide or screen

to prevent harmful radiation, light, sound, etc escaping from (something)