flat-screen
UK[ˌflæt ˈskriːn]US[ˌflæt ˈskriːn]
adj
Having a flat, thin surface for displaying images, as opposed to a curved or bulky one.
n
A television or computer monitor with a flat, thin display.
Morpheme Breakdown
flat
screen
flat
level
screen
display surface
Etymology
The compound "flat-screen" is a modern technological term formed by combining two pre-existing English words. "Flat" originates from the Old Norse word for level, entering English via Old English and Middle English to describe a smooth, even plane. "Screen" has a more complex journey, deriving from a Germanic root meaning "to cut" or "shield," entering English through Old French where it referred to a protective partition. The logic of the compound is transparently descriptive: it specifies a type of display "screen" characterized by its "flat" physical profile, directly contrasting with the bulky, curved cathode-ray tube (CRT) screens it largely replaced.
Analysis
Structure: flat (level) + screen (display surface)
- flat: From Old Norse 'flatr' (level, flat). An adjective describing a surface without curves or bumps.
- screen: From Middle English 'scren', from Old North French 'escren' (a shield). A noun denoting a surface for displaying images or providing shelter/partition.
Examples
We replaced our old television with a new flat-screen model.
The office is equipped with flat-screen monitors for all employees.
The flat-screen on the wall displays flight information.