figurative. An unreal appearance; a delusive semblance or image; a vain and unsubstantial object of pursuit. Often contrasted with substance.

figurative. An unsubstantial image of something real; an unreal appearance; something that has only a fleeting existence, or that has become reduced…

A thing (usually with human form) that appears to the sight or other sense, but has no material substance; an apparition, a spectre, a ghost. Also…

Appearance without substance; something unsubstantial or unreal; (now) esp. foolish or fanciful talk, ideas, plans, etc. Originally †moonshine in the…

Something comparable to smoke or vapour as being unsubstantial, transient, imaginary, etc.

A false, misleading, or illusory appearance of a quality, emotion, etc.; a semblance. Also as a mass noun: mere semblance. Frequently in to have (als…

Cookery. a dish consisting of egg yolks on a sweet base, popular in the 16th and 17th centuries; also used allusively with reference to sense A. 2a…

In proverbial, figurative, or allusive uses. Used to designate anything having no real value or substance, or a mere shadow of something.

With of. A mere semblance; an imperfect or inferior version. Obsolete.

A faint appearance or insubstantial semblance; a slight trace or vestige of a thing. Cf. shadow, n. 6h.

A mere shadow of something. In quot. 1635 figurative.

figurative. Something resembling or reminiscent of a parhelion.

figurative and transferred. A thing unsubstantial, a mere phantom.

Something having merely the form or appearance of a certain thing, without possessing its substance or proper qualities.

A phantasmagoric figure. Obsolete. rare.

A faint shadow or imitation of something.