/ ʃeɪd; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
OUT OF SUN
1.
[ U ] shade (of sth) an area that is dark and cool under or behind sth, for example a tree or building, because the sun's light does not get to it :
We sat down in the shade of the wall.
The temperature can reach 40°C in the shade .
The trees provide shade for the animals in the summer.
—see also shady
ON LAMP, etc.
2.
[ C ] a thing that you use to prevent light from coming through or to make it less bright :
I bought a new shade for the lamp.
an eyeshade
—see also lampshade , sunshade
ON WINDOW
3.
[ C ] (also ˈwindow shade ) (both NAmE ) = blind
OF COLOUR
4.
[ C ] shade (of sth) a particular form of a colour, that is, how dark or light it is :
a delicate / pale / rich / soft shade of red
➡ note at colour
IN PICTURE
5.
[ U ] the dark areas in a picture, especially the use of these to produce variety :
The painting needs more light and shade .
OF OPINION / FEELING
6.
[ C , usually pl. ] shade of sth a different kind or level of opinion, feeling, etc. :
politicians of all shades of opinion
The word has many shades of meaning.
SLIGHTLY
7.
a shade [ sing. ] a little; slightly
SYN touch :
He was feeling a shade disappointed.
FOR EYES
8.
shades [ pl. ] ( informal ) = sunglasses
STH THAT REMINDS YOU
9.
shades of sb/sth [ pl. ] ( informal ) used when you are referring to things that remind you of a particular person, thing or time :
short skirts and long boots—shades of the 1960s
GHOST
10.
[ C ] ( literary ) the spirit of a dead person; a ghost
•
IDIOMS
- put sb/sth in the shade
■ verb
[ vn ]
FROM DIRECT LIGHT
1.
shade sb/sth (from / against sth) to prevent direct light from reaching sth :
The courtyard was shaded by high trees.
She shaded her eyes against the sun.
LAMP
2.
[ usually passive ] to provide a screen for a lamp, light, etc. to make it less bright :
a shaded lamp
PART OF PICTURE
3.
shade sth (in) to make a part of a drawing, etc. darker, for example with an area of colour or with pencil lines :
What do the shaded areas on the map represent?
I'm going to shade this part in.
JUST WIN
4.
( BrE , informal ) to just win a contest
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- shade into sth
••
WHICH WORD
shade / shadow
Shade [U] is an area or a part of a place that is protected from the heat of the sun and so is darker and cooler:
Let's sit in the shade for a while.
A shadow [C] is the dark shape made when a light shines on a person or an object:
As the sun went down we cast long shadows on the lawn.
Shadow [U] is an area of darkness in which it is difficult to distinguish things easily:
Her face was in deep shadow.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English sc(e)adu , of Germanic origin. Compare with shadow .