Plain English Meaning

One screen in the cockpit that can show many different things, and the pilot chooses what to look at.

Full Definition

A cockpit screen that presents several categories of flight information on a single display, with the pilot able to select which information is shown. Typical pages include moving maps, navigation data, engine and system status, weather, traffic, and terrain.

Context Anchor

Seen in aircraft with electronic instrument panels, especially when checking engine information, aircraft systems, maps, or flight status on a cockpit screen.

Derivation

Multi- (Latin: many) + function + display. The name says it plainly: one display that performs many functions, replacing several older single-purpose instruments.