shade

¹shade

noun \ˈshād\

Definition of SHADE

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 <shades 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

Examples of SHADE

1. The buildings cast shade on the plaza.
2. The tree provided plenty of shade.
3. These plants grow well in shade.
4. It was a hot sunny day, but luckily their seats for the game were in the shade.
5. We sat in the shade of a willow tree.
6. He used his hand as a shade as he looked out into the bright sunlight.
7. a lamp with a broken shade
8. She pulled down the shades.
9. She was wearing a cool pair of shades.

Origin of SHADE

Middle English, from Old English sceadu; akin to Old High German scato shadow, Greek skotos darkness

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SHADE

Synonyms: dusk, penumbra, shadiness, shadow, umbra

Antonyms: blaze, brightness, brilliance, day, daylight, glare, glow, light, lightness

Related Words: blackness, dimness, duskiness, gloom, gloominess, murkiness, obscurity, semidarkness, somberness; cloudiness

Near Antonyms: brightness, brilliance, effulgence, illumination, incandescence, light, lightness, lucidity, lucidness, luminance, luminosity, luminousness, radiance, radiancy

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with SHADE

Ade, aid, aide, blade, braid, cade, clade, fade, glade, grade, jade, lade, made, maid, paid, raid, rayed, spade, stade, staid, suede, trade, wade