(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is a dark shape on a surface that is made when something stands between a light and the surface.
An oak tree cast its ~ over a tiny round pool...
Nothing would grow in the ~ of the grey wall...
All he could see was his ~.
N-COUNT
2.
Shadow is darkness in a place caused by something preventing light from reaching it.
Most of the lake was in ~.
= shade
N-UNCOUNT: oft in N
3.
If something ~s a thing or place, it covers it with a ~.
The hood ~ed her face.
VERB: V n
4.
If someone ~s you, they follow you very closely wherever you go.
The supporters are being ~ed by a large and highly visible body of police.
= follow
VERB: V n
5.
A British Member of Parliament who is a member of the ~ cabinet or who is a ~ cabinet minister belongs to the main opposition party and takes a special interest in matters which are the responsibility of a particular government minister.
...the ~ chancellor.
ADJ: ADJ n
•
Shadow is also a noun.
Clarke swung at his ~ the accusation that he was ‘a tabloid politician’.
N-COUNT: poss N
6.
If you say that something is true without a ~ of a doubt or without a ~ of doubt, you are emphasizing that there is no doubt at all that it is true.
It was without a ~ of a doubt the best we’ve played.
PHRASE: usu with brd-neg emphasis
7.
If you live in the ~ of someone or in their ~, their achievements and abilities are so great that you are not noticed or valued.
He has always lived in the ~ of his brother.
PHRASE: N inflects
8.
If you say that someone is a ~ of their former self, you mean that they are much less strong or capable than they used to be.
Johnson returned to the track after his ban but was a ~ of his former self.
PHRASE: Ns inflect