Definition
A cockpit screen in a glass-cockpit aircraft that displays multiple categories of flight information on a single panel, typically including a moving map, navigation data, traffic, terrain, weather, engine and system indications, and flight planning pages. The pilot selects which information is shown by pressing buttons or soft keys around the display.
Plain English
It is a single cockpit screen that can show many different things — a map, the route, engine readings, weather, traffic — and the pilot chooses what to display.
Context Anchor
Seen in modern aircraft with electronic cockpit screens, especially when using map, weather, traffic, engine, checklist, or flight-plan pages.
Derivation
Multi (many) + function (jobs it does). The name reflects that one screen replaces several older single-purpose instruments and chart references.
Why Pilots Care
Allows quick access to critical flight data without switching between multiple separate instruments, reducing workload and improving situational awareness.
Intuition Check
Do not assume the MFD flies the aircraft or replaces the pilot’s basic scan. It is mainly an information screen; the pilot still has to fly the aircraft and choose the right information to use.
Example Sentence 1
Before takeoff, the pilot set the MFD to show the moving map with terrain and traffic overlays.
Example Sentence 2
During cruise, the MFD was set to show both the navigation map and current engine readings at the same time.