shade

Plural: shades

Noun

• relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
  • "it is much cooler in the shade"
• a quality of a given color that differs slightly from another color
  • "after several trials he mixed the shade of pink that she wanted"
• protective covering that protects something from direct sunlight
  • "they used umbrellas as shades"
  • "as the sun moved he readjusted the shade"
• a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude
  • "don't argue about shades of meaning"
• a position of relative inferiority
  • "an achievement that puts everything else in the shade"
  • "his brother's success left him in the shade"
• a slight amount or degree of difference
  • "the new model is a shade better than the old one"
• a mental representation of some haunting experience
• a representation of the effect of shadows in a picture or drawing (as by shading or darker pigment)
• Darkness where light, particularly sunlight, is blocked.
• Something that blocks light, particularly in a window.
• A variety of a color, in particular one obtained by adding black (compare tint).
• A subtle variation in a concept.
• An aspect that is reminiscent of something.
• A very small degree of a quantity, or variety of meaning
• A ghost or specter; a spirit.
• A postage stamp showing an obvious difference in colour/color to the original printing and needing a separate catalogue/catalog entry.
• Subtle insults.
• A cover around or above a light bulb, a lampshade.
• A candle-shade.

Verb

Verb Forms: shaded, shading, shades

• To screen from direct light or heat; to darken.
• cast a shadow over
• represent the effect of shade or shadow on
• protect from light, heat, or view
  • "Shade your eyes when you step out into the bright sunlight"
• vary slightly
  • "shade the meaning"
• pass from one quality such as color to another by a slight degree
  • "the butterfly wings shade to yellow"
• To shield (someone or something) from light.
• To shield oneself from light.
• To alter slightly.
• To vary or approach something slightly, particularly in color.
• To move slightly from one's normal fielding position.
• To darken, particularly in drawing.
• To win by a narrow margin.
• To reduce (a window) so that only its title bar is visible.
• To throw shade, to subtly insult someone.
• To shelter; to cover from injury; to protect; to screen.
• To present a shadow or image of; to shadow forth; to represent.

Examples

• Both parties claimed afterwards that their man did best in the debate, but an early opinion poll suggested Mr Cameron shaded it.
• Close the shade, please: it's too bright in here.
• He tried to SHADE his intentions, but his opponent easily read his next move.
• I draw contours first, gradually shading in midtones and shadows.
• I've painted my room in five lovely shades of pink and chartreuse.
• Jones will shade a little to the right on this pitch count.
• Most politicians will shade the truth if it helps them.
• shades of Groucho Marx
• shades of meaning
• The adventurer was attacked by a shade.
• The hillside was bright green, shading towards gold in the drier areas.
• The old oak tree gave shade in the heat of the day. The temperature rised to the 40 degrees Celsius in the shade.
• The old oak tree shaded the lawn in the heat of the day.
• throw shade
• Too long have I been haunted by that shade.
• We shaded under a huge oak tree.
• Why did you paint your room chartreuse? No shade; I'm genuinely curious.
• You'll need to shade your shot slightly to the left.

Synonyms

fill in, ghost, nicety, nuance, refinement, shade off, shadiness, shadow, shadowiness, specter, spectre, spook, subtlety, tad, tincture, tint, tone, wraith

Antonyms

unshade

Related Words

scoto-, shadow, shed