radiation-shielding
|ra-di-a-tion-shield-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˌreɪ.diˈeɪ.ʃən ˈʃiːl.dɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˌreɪ.dɪˈeɪ.ʃən ˈʃiːl.dɪŋ/
block or reduce radiation
Etymology
'radiation-shielding' is a modern English compound formed by combining 'radiation' and 'shielding'; 'radiation' refers to the emission or propagation of energy as rays and 'shielding' comes from 'shield' meaning a protective barrier.
'radiation' comes into English from Neo-Latin/French (Latin root 'radiare' / 'radius') during the scientific vocabulary growth in the 17th–18th centuries; 'shield' comes from Old English 'scield' (from Proto-Germanic) and developed into Middle and Modern English 'shield', which produced the verbal/adjectival form 'shielding'. The compound 'radiation shielding' arose in modern technical usage and is commonly written either with or without a hyphen.
Initially, elements meant 'ray' ('radiation') and 'protective cover' ('shield'); over time the compound's current technical sense—materials or designs specifically intended to block ionizing radiation—became standard.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
material, structure, or arrangement designed to reduce, block, or absorb ionizing radiation (e.g., gamma rays, X-rays, neutrons) to protect people or equipment.
The facility added extra radiation-shielding around the accelerator to protect technicians.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 1
describing something that provides or relates to shielding against radiation; often used attributively before a noun (e.g., radiation-shielding material).
Radiation-shielding windows are required in that X-ray room.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/18 03:44