n. 1 shadow, shadiness, dimness, duskiness, semi-darkness, gloominess, murkiness, dusk, gloom, murk, darkness, obscurity, Literary shades We rested in the shade of an old oak to get out of the hot sun 2 tint, tinge, tone, colour, hue, intensity The curtains should be of a lighter shade to match the wallpaper 3 hint, intimation, tinge, suggestion, modicum, sprinkling, soupçon, trace, suspicion, undertone, overtone, touch, speck, dash, nuance, atom, grain, scintilla, iota, jot or tittle Did I detect a shade of sarcasm in your voice, Aloysius? 4 ghost, spectre, apparition, phantom, phantasm, spirit, wraith, vision, banshee, Colloq spook As night came on, horrifying shades took shape amongst the leafless trees 5 blind, window-blind, curtain, venetian blind; lampshade; screen, cover, covering, protection, veil, awning, canopy, shield, shelter, umbrella, parasol We need shades to reduce the glare of the light We had only a light tent as a shade against the broiling sun. 6 fraction, hair's breadth, bit, hair, Colloq smidgen or smidgin Try moving the picture a shade to the left 7 variation, variety, nuance, degree Do you really think his approval would make a shade of difference to me? 8 put (someone) in or into the shade overshadow, exceed, surpass, outstrip, outclass, eclipse, outshine, best, better, beat, put to shame, outplay, outperform, outdo, Colloq run rings or circles around, show up Your record time in the 1000-metre put other contenders in the shade 9 shades. sun-glasses Take off those shades so I can see what you are thinking
v. 10 screen, protect, shield, shelter, cover You should shade your eyes from the direct sunlight 11 darken, opaque, black out, blacken She shaded in parts of the diagram to give a better effect 12 dim, shadow, veil, blot out, cloud, conceal, hide, obscure, shroud, screen, mask, camouflage, disguise The house is shaded from view by trees on the south side