noun
- comparative darkness caused by a more or less opaque object cutting off rays of light, as from the sun
- a place giving protection from the heat and light of the sun, as under a tree
- an area less brightly lighted than its surroundings
- Archaic
- a shadow
- a retired or secluded place
- an indication or representation of darkness in painting, drawing, photography, etc.
- degree of darkness of a color; gradation of a color with reference to its mixture with black: various shades of blue
- a small difference or variation: shades of opinion
- a slight amount or degree; trace; touch; suggestion: a shade of humor in his voice
- Chiefly Literary
- a ghost; specter
- anything lacking substance or reality; phantom
- any of various devices used to protect or screen from light and heat; specif.,
- lampshade
- ☆ window shade
- ☆ Slang sunglasses
Origin:
ME schade < OE sceadu (gen. & dat. sceadwe), akin to Goth skadus < IE base *skot-, darkness, shadow > Gr skotos, darkness
transitive verb shaded, shading
- to protect or screen from light or heat
- to provide with a shade
- to hide or screen with or as with a shadow
- to make dark, as with a shade or a shadow; darken; dim; obscure
- to represent the effects of shade in (a painting, photograph, etc.)
- to depict in, or mark with, gradations of light or color
- to change by very slight degrees or gradations
- ☆ to lessen or reduce (a price) slightly
intransitive verb
to change, move, or vary slightly or by degrees