Screen vs. Mesh — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 8, 2024
A screen is a barrier made of fine material used to separate or block passage, while mesh refers to a similar fabric or structure with interlaced strands, designed for filtration or enclosure.
Difference Between Screen and Mesh
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Screens are used in various applications, from window screens that block insects while allowing air flow, to projector screens that display images. They serve to separate, protect, or display, depending on their material and design. Mesh, on the other hand, is characterized by its net-like structure, created by weaving or knotting together flexible strands of metal, plastic, or other materials. It is often used for filtration, like in strainers, or for providing structural support, as in fencing.
While screens are primarily designed to block or allow passage of certain elements, such as light or insects, without altering the composition of what passes through, mesh materials are selected for their ability to filter, contain, or support specific items based on the size and strength of their openings. For example, a mesh can be designed to filter out particles of a certain size in industrial applications.
The terminology often overlaps in everyday language; for instance, window screens are made of a mesh material but are referred to as screens due to their function. Similarly, mesh can be used in screen printing, where it serves to transfer an image onto another surface by allowing ink to pass through its openings.
In terms of physical properties, screens can be made from a wider variety of materials, including fabric, metal, and plastic, and can be designed to retract or be fixed in place. Mesh is defined by its net-like appearance and is typically rated by its mesh size, or the number of openings per inch, which determines its ability to filter or contain.
Comparison Chart
Definition
A barrier made of fine material for separation.
A fabric with interlaced strands for filtration.
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Function
Blocks, protects, or displays.
Filters, contains, or supports.
Material
Can be fabric, metal, or plastic.
Often metal, plastic, or fabric, flexible strands.
Applications
Window screens, projector screens.
Filtration systems, fencing, screen printing.
Characteristic
Designed based on what it blocks or allows through.
Defined by net-like structure and mesh size.
Compare with Definitions
Screen
A partition or barrier used for privacy or protection.
The changing room was separated by a folding screen.
Mesh
Material made of interlacing fibers or strands.
The mesh bag was perfect for carrying beach toys.
Screen
A fixed or movable barrier allowing passage of light and air but blocking insects or debris.
We installed screens on our windows to enjoy the breeze without the bugs.
Mesh
The number of openings per inch in a filter.
The filter's mesh size determines what particles it can trap.
Screen
A surface on which images or videos are displayed.
The movie was projected onto a large screen at the outdoor cinema.
Mesh
A structure with interconnected strands used for fencing.
We put up a wire mesh fence around the garden.
Screen
In computing, the part of a monitor displaying the output.
She spends most of her day looking at a computer screen.
Mesh
To engage or entangle; in context, ideas that mesh well together.
The team's diverse ideas meshed into a solid plan.
Screen
A method in basketball to block an opponent.
He set a screen for his teammate to take a shot.
Mesh
In computer networking, a topology where nodes connect directly.
The mesh network provided reliable internet throughout the building.
Screen
A movable device, especially a framed construction such as a room divider or a decorative panel, designed to divide, conceal, or protect.
Mesh
A mesh is a barrier made of connected strands of metal, fiber, or other flexible or ductile materials. A mesh is similar to a web or a net in that it has many attached or woven strands.
Screen
One that serves to protect, conceal, or divide
Security guards formed a screen around the president. A screen of evergreens afforded privacy from our neighbors.
Mesh
Any of the open spaces in a net or network; an interstice.
Screen
A surface, as on a smartphone, television, or computer monitor, on which one can read and view electronically displayed information and images.
Mesh
Often meshes The cords, threads, or wires surrounding these spaces.
Screen
A surface on which text and images are projected for display.
Mesh
An openwork fabric or structure; a net or network
A screen made of wire mesh.
Screen
The medium in which movies are shown
A star of stage and screen.
Mesh
Often meshes Something that snares or entraps
"Arabia had become entangled in the meshes of ... politics" (W. Montgomery Watt).
Screen
A coarse sieve used for sifting out fine particles, as of sand, gravel, or coal.
Mesh
The engagement of gear teeth.
Screen
A system for preliminary appraisal and selection of personnel as to their suitability for particular jobs.
Mesh
The state of being so engaged
Gear teeth in mesh.
Screen
A window or door insertion of framed wire or plastic mesh used to keep out insects and permit air flow.
Mesh
To catch in or as if in a net; ensnare.
Screen
A body of troops or ships sent in advance of or surrounding a larger body to protect or warn of attack.
Mesh
To cause (gear teeth) to become engaged.
Screen
(Sports) A block, set with the body, that impedes the vision or movement of an opponent.
Mesh
To cause to work closely together; coordinate.
Screen
(Football) A screen pass.
Mesh
To become entangled.
Screen
To show or project (a movie, for example) on a screen.
Mesh
To become engaged or interlocked
Gears that are not meshing properly.
Screen
To conceal from view with a screen or something that acts like a screen
"Only a narrow line of brush and saplings screened the broad vista of the marsh" (David M. Carroll).
Mesh
To fit together effectively; be coordinated.
Screen
To protect, guard, or shield
"This rose is screened from the wind with burlap" (Anne Raver).
Mesh
To accord with another or each other; harmonize.
Screen
To provide with a screen or screens
Screen a porch.
Mesh
A structure made of connected strands of metal, fiber, or other flexible/ductile material, with evenly spaced openings between them.
Screen
To separate or sift out (fine particles of sand, for example) by means of a sieve or screen.
Mesh
The opening or space enclosed by the threads of a net between knot and knot, or the threads enclosing such a space.
Screen
To sort through and eliminate unwanted examples of (something)
A filter that screens email, preventing spam from reaching the inbox.
Mesh
The engagement of the teeth of wheels, or of a wheel and rack.
Screen
To examine (a job applicant, for example) systematically in order to determine suitability.
Mesh
A measure of fineness (particle size) of ground material. A powder that passes through a sieve having 300 openings per linear inch but does not pass 400 openings per linear inch is said to be -300 +400 mesh.
Screen
To test or evaluate (a student) to determine placement in an educational system or to identify specific learning needs.
Mesh
(computer graphics) A polygon mesh.
Screen
To test or examine for the presence of disease or infection
Screen blood.
Screen a patient.
Mesh
(electronics) In mesh analysis: a loop in a electric circuit (to which Kirchhoff's voltage law can be applied).
Screen
To subject to genetic screening.
Mesh
(ambitransitive) To connect together by interlocking, as gears do.
Screen
To block the vision or movement of (an opponent) with the body.
Mesh
To fit in; to come together harmoniously.
The music meshed well with the visuals in that film.
Screen
To obscure an opponent's view of (a shot) by positioning oneself between the opponent and the shooter.
Mesh
(transitive) To catch in a mesh.
Screen
A physical divider intended to block an area from view, or provide shelter from something dangerous.
A fire screen
Mesh
The opening or space inclosed by the threads of a net between knot and knot, or the threads inclosing such a space; network; a net.
A golden mesh to entrap the hearts of men.
Screen
A material woven from fine wires intended to block animals or large particles from passing while allowing gasses, liquids and finer particles to pass.
Mesh
The engagement of the teeth of wheels, or of a wheel and rack.
Screen
A frame supporting a mesh of bars or wires used to classify fragments of stone by size, allowing the passage of fragments whose a diameter is smaller than the distance between the bars or wires.
Mesh
To catch in a mesh.
Screen
(baseball) The protective netting which protects the audience from flying objects
Jones caught the foul up against the screen.
Mesh
To engage with each other, as the teeth of wheels.
Screen
(printing) A stencil upon a framed mesh through which paint is forced onto printed-on material; the frame with the mesh itself.
Mesh
The number of opening per inch of a screen; measures size of particles;
A 100 mesh screen
100 mesh powdered cellulose
Screen
(by analogy) Searching through a sample for a target; an act of screening
A drug screen, a genetic screen
Mesh
Contact by fitting together;
The engagement of the clutch
The meshing of gears
Screen
(genetics) A technique used to identify genes so as to study gene functions.
Mesh
The topology of a network whose components are all connected directly to every other component
Screen
Various forms or formats of information display
Mesh
An open fabric of string or rope or wire woven together at regular intervals
Screen
The viewing surface or area of a movie, or moving picture or slide presentation.
Mesh
The act of interlocking or meshing;
An interlocking of arms by the police held the crowd in check
Screen
The informational viewing area of electronic devices, where output is displayed.
Mesh
Keep engaged;
Engaged the gears
Screen
One of the individual regions of a video game, etc. divided into separate screens.
Mesh
Coordinate in such a way that all parts work together effectively
Screen
(computer) The visualised data or imagery displayed on a computer screen.
After you turn on the computer, the login screen appears.
Mesh
Work together in harmony
Screen
(figurative) A disguise; concealment.
Mesh
Entangle or catch in (or as if in) a mesh
Screen
Definitions related to standing in the path of an opposing player
Screen
(American football) screen pass
Screen
(basketball) An offensive tactic in which a player stands so as to block a defender from reaching a teammate.
Screen
(cricket) An erection of white canvas or wood placed on the boundary opposite a batsman to make the ball more easily visible.
Screen
(nautical) A collection of less-valuable vessels that travel with a more valuable one for the latter's protection.
Screen
(architecture) A dwarf wall or partition carried up to a certain height for separation and protection, as in a church, to separate the aisle from the choir, etc.
Screen
A large scarf.
Screen
To filter by passing through a screen.
Mary screened the beans to remove the clumps of gravel.
Screen
To shelter or conceal.
Screen
To remove information, or censor intellectual material from viewing. To hide the facts.
The news report was screened because it accused the politician of wrongdoing.
Screen
To present publicly (on the screen).
The news report will be screened at 11:00 tonight.
Screen
To fit with a screen.
We need to screen this porch. These bugs are driving me crazy.
Screen
(medicine) To examine patients or treat a sample in order to detect a chemical or a disease, or to assess susceptibility to a disease.
Screen
(molecular biology) To search chemical libraries by means of a computational technique in order to identify chemical compounds which would potentially bind to a given biological target such as a protein.
Screen
(basketball) To stand so as to block a defender from reaching a teammate.
Screen
To determine the source or subject matter of a call before deciding whether to answer the phone.
Screen
Anything that separates or cuts off inconvenience, injury, or danger; that which shelters or conceals from view; a shield or protection; as, a fire screen.
Your leavy screens throw down.
Some ambitious men seem as screens to princes in matters of danger and envy.
Screen
A dwarf wall or partition carried up to a certain height for separation and protection, as in a church, to separate the aisle from the choir, or the like.
Screen
A surface, as that afforded by a curtain, sheet, wall, etc., upon which an image, as a picture, is thrown by a magic lantern, solar microscope, etc.
Screen
A long, coarse riddle or sieve, sometimes a revolving perforated cylinder, used to separate the coarser from the finer parts, as of coal, sand, gravel, and the like.
Screen
An erection of white canvas or wood placed on the boundary opposite a batsman to enable him to see ball better.
Screen
A netting, usu. of metal, contained in a frame, used mostly in windows or doors to allow in fresh air while excluding insects.
Screen
The surface of an electronic device, as a television set or computer monitor, on which a visible image is formed. The screen is frequently the surface of a cathode-ray tube containing phosphors excited by the electron beam, but other methods for causing an image to appear on the screen are also used, as in flat-panel displays.
Screen
The motion-picture industry; motion pictures.
Screen
To provide with a shelter or means of concealment; to separate or cut off from inconvenience, injury, or danger; to shelter; to protect; to protect by hiding; to conceal; as, fruits screened from cold winds by a forest or hill.
They were encouraged and screened by some who were in high commands.
Screen
To pass, as coal, gravel, ashes, etc., through a screen in order to separate the coarse from the fine, or the worthless from the valuable; to sift.
Screen
To examine a group of objects methodically, to separate them into groups or to select one or more for some purpose.
Screen
A white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing
Screen
Something that keeps things out or hinders sight;
They had just moved in and had not put up blinds yet
Screen
Display on the surface of the large end of a cathode-ray tube on which is electronically created
Screen
A covering that serves to conceal or shelter something;
They crouched behind the screen
Under cover of darkness
Screen
Protective covering consisting of a metallic netting mounted in a frame and covering windows or doors (especially for protection against insects)
Screen
A strainer for separating lumps from powdered material or grading particles
Screen
A door that is a screen to keep insects from entering a building through the open door;
He heard the screen slam as she left
Screen
Partition consisting of a decorative frame or panel that serves to divide a space
Screen
Test or examine for the presence of disease or infection;
Screen the blood for the HIV virus
Screen
Examine methodically;
Screen the suitcases
Screen
Examine in order to test suitability;
Screen these samples
Screen the job applicants
Screen
Project onto a screen for viewing;
Screen a film
Screen
Prevent from entering;
Block out the strong sunlight
Screen
Separate with a riddle, as grain from chaff
Screen
Protect, hide, or conceal from danger or harm
Common Curiosities
Can a screen be made of mesh?
Yes, screens for windows or doors are often made of mesh material but are called screens because of their function.
What is mesh?
Mesh refers to a net-like fabric or structure made from interlaced strands, used for filtration, containment, or support.
What is a screen?
A screen is a barrier made of materials like fabric, metal, or plastic, designed to block or allow passage of light, air, or visuals.
What is screen printing?
Screen printing is a technique where ink is pushed through a mesh screen to transfer an image onto another surface.
How do screen and mesh differ in use?
Screens are used to separate or block passage (e.g., insect screens), while mesh is used for filtering or providing structural support (e.g., fencing).
What determines the filtering capability of a mesh?
The mesh size, or the number of openings per inch, determines its capability to filter specific particles.
Are screens used in technology?
Yes, screens are used in devices like computers, televisions, and projectors to display images and videos.
How do materials affect the choice between screen and mesh?
The choice depends on the application's requirements for flexibility, durability, and the size of particles or elements to block or filter.
Is mesh size standardized?
Yes, mesh size is standardized in terms of openings per inch, allowing for consistency in filtration applications.
Can both screen and mesh be used for protection?
Yes, screens can protect against insects or debris, and mesh can provide structural protection, such as in fencing.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
