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REFERENCE

shade

n. · v.
US //ˈʃeɪd// UK //ʃˈeɪd// shade
  1. 1 blocked sunlight (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    an area that is dark and cool because the sun cannot reach it.

    comparative darkness caused by the interception of light rays by an opaque object.

    Example

    We sat in the shade of a large oak tree to eat our lunch.

    Example

    The hikers sought the cool shade of the canyon walls as the midday sun became increasingly oppressive.
  2. 2 variety of a color (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a specific version of a color, such as dark blue or light blue.

    a particular gradation of a color, specifically one produced by the addition of black to a hue.

    Example

    The walls were painted a soft shade of green.

    Example

    The designer struggled to find a shade of silk that perfectly matched the vintage velvet of the upholstery.
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  1. 3 subtle difference (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a very small difference in meaning, feeling, or opinion.

    a slight or subtle variation in meaning, degree, or quality.

    Example

    There are many shades of meaning in the word 'freedom'.

    Example

    The diplomat's speech contained various shades of meaning that were carefully calculated to appease both domestic and international audiences.
  2. 4 a screen or cover (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    something used to block light, like a cover on a lamp or a window.

    a device or object used to reduce or exclude light, such as a lampshade or a window blind.

    Example

    She pulled down the window shade to keep the room dark.

    Example

    The ornate glass shade of the antique lamp diffused the light into a warm, amber glow across the study.
  3. 5 subtle insult (n.)
    C1 Advanced Slang Informal

    a clever or indirect way of showing you do not respect someone.

    subtle, indirect, or artistic expression of contempt or disrespect toward someone.

    Example

    She threw some serious shade at her rival during the interview.

    Example

    The pop star's latest lyrics were widely interpreted as throwing shade at her former manager.

    Usage

    Commonly used in the phrase 'to throw shade'.
  4. 6 a ghost (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Literary Archaic

    the spirit of a dead person.

    the soul of a deceased person, especially as inhabiting the underworld.

    Example

    The poet spoke of the shades of the dead wandering the halls.

    Example

    In the epic poem, the hero descends into the underworld to consult the shades of his fallen comrades.
  5. 7 to block light (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to protect something from direct light or heat.

    to screen or protect from light or heat by providing cover.

    Example

    He shaded his eyes with his hand to see the distant ship.

    Example

    The architect designed deep eaves to shade the south-facing windows during the hottest part of the summer afternoon.
  6. 8 to darken in art (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to make parts of a drawing darker to show depth or light.

    to represent different values of light and dark in a drawing or painting.

    Example

    You should shade the left side of the sphere to make it look round.

    Example

    The artist used cross-hatching to shade the portrait, creating a dramatic sense of depth and texture.
  7. 9 to change gradually (v.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Literary

    to change slowly from one thing or color into another.

    to pass by imperceptible degrees from one state, color, or quality into another.

    Example

    The bright pink of the sunset began to shade into deep purple.

    Example

    The author's political arguments often shade into personal grievances, making the core message difficult to isolate.
Etymology 1

From Middle English schade, from Old English sċeadu, sċadu (“shadow; shade”), from Proto-West Germanic skadu, from Proto-Germanic skadwaz (“shadow”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱeh₃- (“darkness, shadow”). Cognates Cognate with Scots shedda (“shadow”), Saterland Frisian Skaad, Skade (“shade, shadow”), West Frisian skaad, skâd (“shade, shadow”), Central Franconian and Limburgish Schatte (“shadow”), Dutch schade, schaduw (“shadow”), German Schatten (“shade, shadow”), German Low German Scharr, Scharre (“shade, shadow”), Luxembourgish Schiet (“shade, shadow”), Vilamovian siota (“shadow”), Yiddish שאָטן (shotn, “shadow”), Faroese skadda (“thick wet mountain fog”), Icelandic skodda, skoddi (“shadow”), Norwegian Bokmål skodde (“fog, mist”), Norwegian Nynorsk skodde, skåddj, skåidd (“fog; ice fog”), Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌰𐌳𐌿𐍃 (skadus, “shadow”); also Breton skeud (“shadow; reflection; ghost”), Cornish skeus (“shadow; reflection”), Irish scáth (“shadow”), Manx scaa, skæ (“shield; shade, shadow”), Scottish Gaelic sgàth (“shade, shadow”), Latin obscurus (“dark, dusky, shadowy”), Ancient Greek σκότος (skótos, “darkness, gloom”) (whence English scoto-), Belarusian сівы́ (sivý, “grey”), Czech and Slovak sivý (“grey”), Macedonian осој (osoj, “shady place”), Polish siwy (“grey”), Russian си́вый (sívyj, “grey”), Serbo-Croatian сив, siv (“grey”), Slovene osoja (“shady place”), Ukrainian си́вий (sývyj, “grey”), Armenian սեաւ (seaw), սեւ (sew, “black”), Ossetian сау (saw, “black”), Persian سه (sah), سیه (siyah), سیاه (siyâh, “black”), Sanskrit श्याम (śyāma, “black”), श्याव (śyāva, “dark”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English schaden, from the noun.

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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