shade

noun

\ ˈshād

Definition of shade

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : comparative darkness or obscurity owing to interception of the rays of light

b : relative obscurity or retirement

2a : 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 shades plural

a : the shadows that gather as darkness comes on

b : netherworld, hades

5a : 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: such 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 shades plural : sunglasses

7a : the reproduction of the effect of shade in painting or drawing

b : a subdued or somber feature

8a : a color produced by a pigment or dye mixture having some black in it

b : a color slightly different from the one under consideration

9a : a minute difference or variation : nuance

b : a minute degree or quantity

10 : a facial expression of sadness or displeasure

throw shade

US slang

: to express contempt or disrespect for someone publicly especially by subtle or indirect insults or criticisms Christopher Oram's elegant set is a pillared palazzo; at cafe tables wasp-waisted women sip tiny cups of espresso and throw shade at their rivals from behind dark glasses …— Sam Marlowe

shade

verb

shaded; shading

Definition of shade (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : 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

5a : 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 shade 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

Other Words from shade Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about shade

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Synonyms for shade

Synonyms: Noun

dusk, penumbra, shadiness, shadow, umbra

Synonyms: Verb

shadow

Examples of shade in a Sentence

Noun

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

Verb

Several large trees shade the house. She shaded the drawing to give it depth. The shaded part of the graph represents the amount of sales. The article shaded the truth by revealing only one side of the story.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

His speed and aggression allow the A’s corner outfielders to shade the lines. — Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, "A’s Ramon Laureano is movin’ on up, soaring above the grind," 19 June 2019 This week, Schon issued a public plea urging city officials to find a solution to the issue — planting trees to shade the piece, or constructing a small canopy — that would allow the turtle to stay. — Dugan Arnett, BostonGlobe.com, "A small turtle sculpture sparks big controversy on Beacon Hill," 13 June 2019 None of my comments in print are ever meant to shade anyone. — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "'Grey's Anatomy' Star Ellen Pompeo Breaks Silence After Fans Accuse Her of "Shading" Patrick Dempsey," 10 June 2019 None of my comments in print are ever meant to shade anyone. — Claudia Harmata, PEOPLE.com, "Ellen Pompeo Defends Her 'Toxic Work Environment' Comment About Grey's Anatomy's First 10 Years," 9 June 2019 The peas climb a trellis on the west edge, so as not to shade others. — Mike Klingaman, baltimoresun.com, "How a Columbia gardener turns his tiny plot into a full-fledged feast," 4 June 2019 At 12-foot increments, the fast-growing, straight ponderosa pines the Forest Service plants out west are perfectly optimized to get as big as possible, while still remaining close enough for their canopies to shade out competing trees and shrubs. — Ian Willms, National Geographic, "Tree-planting programs can do more harm than good," 26 Apr. 2019 Over the past year, the two rappers have gone from denying ill will toward one another to slyly shading each other to supposedly brawling at a party during New York Fashion Week. — Alex Abad-santos, Vox, "Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, and the sexist female rapper paradigm behind their feud, explained," 6 Nov. 2018 Wear sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat to shade your face and neck, Schimelpfenig says. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "14 Essential Hiking Safety Tips You Should Always Follow," 10 May 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shade.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.