SMOKE SCREEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does smoke screen mean? 

• SMOKE SCREEN (noun)
  The noun SMOKE SCREEN has 2 senses:

1. (military) screen consisting of a cloud of smoke that obscures movements

2. an action intended to conceal or confuse or obscure

  Familiarity information: SMOKE SCREEN used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SMOKE SCREEN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(military) screen consisting of a cloud of smoke that obscures movements

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

smoke screen; smokescreen

Hypernyms ("smoke screen" is a kind of...):

screen (a protective covering consisting of netting; can be mounted in a frame)

Domain category:

armed forces; armed services; military; military machine; war machine (the military forces of a nation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An action intended to conceal or confuse or obscure

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

smoke screen; smokescreen

Context example:

requesting new powers of surveillance is just a smokescreen to hide their failures

Hypernyms ("smoke screen" is a kind of...):

concealing; concealment; hiding (the activity of keeping something secret)

 Context examples 

It is primarily used as an intermediate in the production of dyes, smoke screens, scintillation counter crystals, and in organic semiconductor research.

(Anthracene, NCI Thesaurus)