I. ˈshād noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English sceadu; akin to Old High German scato shadow, Greek skotos darkness
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : comparative darkness or obscurity owing to interception of the rays of light
b. : relative obscurity or retirement
2.
a. : shelter (as by foliage) from the heat and glare of sunlight
b. : a place sheltered from the sun
3. : an evanescent or unreal appearance
4. plural
a. : the shadows that gather as darkness comes on
b. : netherworld , Hades
5.
a. : a disembodied spirit : ghost
b. — used to signal the similarity between a previously encountered person or situation and one at hand; usually used in plural
shade s of my childhood
6. : something that intercepts or shelters from light, sun, or heat: as
a. : a device partially covering a lamp so as to reduce glare
b. : a flexible screen usually mounted on a roller for regulating the light or the view through a window
c. plural : sunglasses
7.
a. : the reproduction of the effect of shade in painting or drawing
b. : a subdued or somber feature
8.
a. : a color produced by a pigment or dye mixture having some black in it
b. : a color slightly different from the one under consideration
9.
a. : a minute difference or variation : nuance
b. : a minute degree or quantity
10. : a facial expression of sadness or displeasure
• shade·less -ləs adjective
II. verb
( shad·ed ; shad·ing )
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to shelter or screen by intercepting radiated light or heat
b. : to cover with a shade
2. : to hide partly by or as if by a shadow
3. : to darken with or as if with a shadow
4. : to better or exceed by a shade : surpass , eclipse
5.
a. : to represent the effect of shade or shadow on
b. : to add shading to
c. : to color so that the shades pass gradually from one to another
6. : to change by gradual transition or qualification
7. : to reduce slightly (as a price)
8. : slant , bias
intransitive verb
1. : to pass by slight changes or imperceptible degrees
2. : to undergo or exhibit minute difference or variation
• shad·er noun