Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense shades, present participle shading, past tense, past participle shaded
1. countable noun [inNOUN]
A shadeof a particular colour is one of its different forms. For example, emerald green and olive green are shades of green.
In the mornings the sky appeared a heavy shade of mottled gray.
The walls were painted in two shades of green. [+ of]
...new eyeshadows in a choice of 80 shades.
Synonyms: hue, tone, colour, tint More Synonyms of shade
2. uncountable noun [oft in theN]
Shade is an area of darkness under or next to an object such as a tree, where sunlight does not reach.
Temperatures in the shade can reach forty-eight degrees Celsius at this time of year.
Alexis walked up the coast, and resumed his reading in the shade of an overhangingcliff.
...exotic trees provide welcome shade.
Synonyms: shadow, cover, screen, shadows More Synonyms of shade
3. verb
If you say that a place or person is shaded by objects such as trees, you mean that the place or person cannot be reached, harmed, or bothered by strong sunlight because those objects are in the way.
...a health resort whose beaches are shaded by palm trees. [beVERB-ed]
Most plants prefer to be lightly shaded from direct, hot sunlight. [beV-ed from n]
Umbrellas shade outdoor cafes along winding cobblestone streets. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: darken, shadow, cloud, dim More Synonyms of shade
shadedgraded adjective [oft adverb ADJECTIVE]
These plants will grow happily in a sunny or partially shaded spot.
4. verb
If you shade your eyes, you put your hand or an object partly in front of your face in order to prevent a bright light from shining into your eyes.
You can't look directly into it; you've got to shade your eyes or close them altogether. [VERB noun]
I had to stop at the traffic lights and put down the sun visor to shade my eyes fromthe light. [VERB noun from noun]
Synonyms: cover, protect, screen, hide More Synonyms of shade
5. uncountable noun
Shade is darkness or shadows as they are shown in a picture.
...Rembrandt's skilful use of light and shade to create the atmosphere of movement.
6. countable noun [usually plural]
The shadesof something abstract are its many, slightly different forms.
...the capacity to convey subtle shades of meaning. [+ of]
...literally dozens of newspapers of every shade of opinion.
Synonyms: nuance, difference, degree, graduation More Synonyms of shade
7. verb
If something shadesinto something else, there is no clear division between the two things, so that you cannot tell where or when the first thing ends and the second thing begins.
As the dusk shaded into night, we drove slowly through narrow alleys. [VERB + into]
The tail feathers are dark blue at their bases, shading to pale blue at their tips. [VERBto noun]
Synonyms: turn, transmute, change gradually More Synonyms of shade
8. plural noun
Shades are sunglasses.
[informal]
9. countable noun
A shade is the same as a lampshade.
10. countable noun
A shade is a piece of stiff cloth or heavy paper that you can pull down over a window as a covering.
[US]
Nancy left the shades down and the lights off.
regional note: in BRIT, use blind
Synonyms: screen, covering, cover, blind More Synonyms of shade
11. countable noun [usually NOUNof noun]
The shadeof a dead person is their spirit, which is thought to be still alive in some way and in contact with the real world.
[literary]
His writing benefits from the shade of Lincoln hovering over his shoulder.
Synonyms: ghost, spirit, shadow, phantom More Synonyms of shade
12. See also shaded, shading
13.
See a shade
14.
See light and shade
15.
See put someone/something in the shade
More Synonyms of shade
shade in British English
(ʃeɪd)
noun
1.
relative darkness produced by the blocking out of light
2.
a place made relatively darker or cooler than other areas by the blocking of light, esp sunlight
3.
a position of relative obscurity
4.
something used to provide a shield or protection from a direct source of light, such as a lampshade
5.
a darker area indicated in a painting, drawing, etc, by shading
6.
a colour that varies slightly from a standard colour due to a difference in hue, saturation, or luminosity
a darker shade of green
7.
a slight amount
a shade of difference
8. literary
a ghost
9. an archaic word for shadow
10. put in the shade
11. throw shade
verb(mainly tr)
12.
to screen or protect from heat, light, view, etc
13.
to make darker or dimmer
14.
to represent (a darker area) in (a painting, drawing, etc), by means of hatching,using a darker colour, etc
15. (also intr)
to change or cause to change slightly
16.
to lower (a price) slightly
Derived forms
shadeless (ˈshadeless)
adjective
Word origin
Old English sceadu; related to Gothic skadus, Old High German skato, Old Irish scāth shadow, Greek skotos darkness, Swedish skäddä fog
shade in American English
(ʃeɪd)
noun
1.
comparative darkness caused by a more or less opaque object cutting off rays of light, as from the sun
2.
a.
a place giving protection from the heat and light of the sun, as under a tree
b.
an area less brightly lighted than its surroundings
3. Archaic
a.
a shadow
b. [often pl.]
a retired or secluded place
4.
an indication or representation of darkness in painting, drawing, photography, etc.
5.
degree of darkness of a color; gradation of a color with reference to its mixture with black
various shades of blue
see also tint
6.
a.
a small difference or variation
shades of opinion
b.
a slight amount or degree; trace; touch; suggestion
a shade of humor in his voice
7. Chiefly Literary
a.
a ghost; specter
b.
anything lacking substance or reality; phantom
8.
any of various devices used to protect or screen from light and heat
; specif.,
a.
lampshade
b. US
window shade
9. US; [pl.]; Slang
sunglasses
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈshaded or ˈshading
10.
to protect or screen from light or heat
11.
to provide with a shade
12.
to hide or screen with or as with a shadow
13.
to make dark, as with a shade or a shadow; darken; dim; obscure
14.
a.
to represent the effects of shade in (a painting, photograph, etc.)
b.
to depict in, or mark with, gradations of light or color
15.
to change by very slight degrees or gradations
16. US
to lessen or reduce (a price) slightly
verb intransitive
17.
to change, move, or vary slightly or by degrees
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈcolor
Idioms:
in the shade
shades of
the shades
Derived forms
shadeless (ˈshadeless)
adjective
shader (ˈshader)
noun
Word origin
ME schade < OE sceadu (gen. & dat. sceadwe), akin to Goth skadus < IE base *skot-, darkness, shadow > Gr skotos, darkness
More idioms containing
shade
put someone in the shade
Examples of 'shade' in a sentence
shade
Use a shade of white for the background to brighten up a narrow hallway.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They are happy in sun or partial shade.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Ideal for an exotic garden and very happy in deep shade.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You can use its side rather than its tip to shade large areas.
Robertson, Bruce Learn to Draw Countryside (1996)
Trees absorb carbon dioxide and provide shade.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It allowed them to distinguish shapes and light and shade.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They sat in the shade of a tree as they appealed for their release.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Their red legs are also turning a brighter shade for summer.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But there is a shade of meaning that has been lost.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Why not pick one shade for all but your ring fingers and then use a contrasting hue.
The Sun (2014)
Use a matte shade for natural enhancement or a small amount of shimmer shadow.
The Sun (2011)
Plant in partial shade on neutral to alkaline soil.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We also want to put a tiled roof over half the area for shade.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They include cool pools and refreshing fountains while exotic trees provide welcome shade.
Collins Traveller - Mallorca
Both like light shade and a good degree of moisture in the soil.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You must always acclimatise them gradually to outdoor light by standing them out in full shade at first.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Leave for between thirty minutes and one hour depending on your natural hair colour and the shade of brown you require.
Guyton, Anita The Natural Beauty Book - cruelty-free cosmetics to make at home (1991)
Those who pass for opposition leaders in Iran are simply a different shade of establishment conservative.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Who's been sprayed the deepest shade of orange?
The Sun (2015)
My wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning.
Arthur Conan Doyle The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892)
In other languages
shade
British English: shade /ʃeɪd/ NOUN
Shade is a cool area of darkness where the sun does not reach.
These plants need some shade, humidity and fresh air.
American English: shade
Arabic: ظِلّ
Brazilian Portuguese: sombra
Chinese: 荫凉处
Croatian: nijansa
Czech: stín místo
Danish: skygge
Dutch: schaduw
European Spanish: sombra lugar
Finnish: varjo
French: ombre
German: Schatten
Greek: σκιά
Italian: ombra
Japanese: 陰
Korean: 그늘
Norwegian: nyanse
Polish: cień
European Portuguese: sombra
Romanian: răcoare
Russian: тень
Latin American Spanish: sombra
Swedish: skugga
Thai: ร่ม ที่ร่ม
Turkish: gölge tente, ağaç altı
Ukrainian: затінок
Vietnamese: chỗ râm
British English: shade VERB
If you say that a place or person is shaded by objects such as trees, you mean that the place or person cannot be reached, harmed, or bothered by strong sunlight because those objects are in the way.
...a health resort whose beaches are shaded by palm trees.
American English: shade
Brazilian Portuguese: sombrear
Chinese: 遮蔽使不受阳光伤害
European Spanish: proteger del sol
French: ombrager
German: beschatten
Italian: ombreggiare
Japanese: 陰にする
Korean: 그늘지다
European Portuguese: sombrear
Latin American Spanish: proteger del sol
All related terms of 'shade'
a shade
If you say that something is, for example , a shade unusual or a shade disappointing , you mean that it is slightly unusual or disappointing.
shade tree
a tree planted or valued for its shade
throw shade
to make a public show of contempt
window shade
A window shade is a piece of stiff cloth or heavy paper that you can pull down over a window as a covering .
in the shade
in (or into) darkness or shadow
light and shade
If you say that there is light and shade in something such as a performance , you mean you like it because different parts of it are different in tone or mood .
put in the shade
to appear better than (another); surpass
put someone in the shade
to be so impressive that you make another person or thing seem unimportant by comparison
put someone/something in the shade
To put someone or something in the shade means to be so impressive that the person or thing seems unimportant by comparison .
Chinese translation of 'shade'
shade
(ʃeɪd)
n
(u) (= shelter) 阴(陰)凉(涼)处(處) (yīnliángchù)
(u) (in painting, photo) 阴(陰)影 (yīnyǐng)
(c) (= hue)[of colour]色度 (sèdù) (种(種), zhǒng)
(c) (also lampshade) 灯(燈)罩 (dēngzhào) (个(個), gè)
(c) (US, on window) 遮阳(陽)窗帘(簾) (zhēyáng chuānglián) (幅, fú)
英 = blind
vt
[place]遮蔽 (zhēbì)
[eyes]为(為) ... 挡(擋)光 (wèi ... dǎngguāng)
to shade sth from the light/sun遮住某物以使不受光线(線)/阳(陽)光照射 (zhēzhù mǒuwù yǐ shǐ bù shòu guāngxiàn/yángguāng zhàoshè)
shades of meaning/opinion有细(細)微差别(別)的意思/意见(見) (yǒu xìwēi chābié de yìsi/yìjiàn)
a shade ... 有点(點) ... (yǒudiǎn ... )
in the shade在阴(陰)凉(涼)处(處) (zài yīnliángchù)
Derived Forms
shadesn pl (inf) 太阳(陽)镜(鏡) (tàiyángjìng)
1 (noun)
Definition
any of the different hues of a colour
The walls were painted in two shades of green.
Synonyms
hue
The same hue will look different in different lights.
tone
Each brick also varies slightly in tone.
colour
The badges come in twenty different colours and shapes.
tint
Its large leaves often show a delicate purple tint.
2 (noun)
Definition
a place sheltered from the sun by trees, buildings, etc.
Exotic trees provide welcome shade.
Synonyms
shadow
Most of the lake was in shadow.
cover
There were barren wastes of field with no trees and no cover.
screen
shadows
shelter
a bus shelter
coolness
shadiness
3 (noun)
Definition
a slight amount
There was a shade of irony in her voice.
Synonyms
dash
Add a dash of balsamic vinegar.
trace
Wash them in cold water to remove all traces of sand.
hint
I glanced at her and saw no hint of irony on her face.
suggestion
that fashionably faint suggestion of a tan
suspicion
large blooms of white with a suspicion of pale pink
small amount
semblance
4 (noun)
the capacity to convey subtle shades of meaning
Synonyms
nuance
Our eyes can communicate virtually every subtle nuance of emotion.
difference
degree
They achieved varying degrees of success.
graduation
subtlety
gradation
gradations of social status
small marks like the gradations on a school ruler
modulation
5 (noun)
Definition
something used to provide a shield or protection from a direct source of light, such as a lamp shade
She left the shades down and the lights off.
Synonyms
screen
They put a screen in front of me.
covering
Sawdust was used as a hygienic floor covering.
cover
The grocery store was just a cover for their betting shop.
blind
Hang the blind straight.
curtain
a curtain of cigarette smoke
shield
The wall provided a shield from the wind.
veil
She swathed her face in a veil of decorative muslin.
canopy
The dais is covered with a silk brocade canopy.
6 (noun)
Definition
a ghost
(literary)
His writing benefits from the shade of Lincoln hovering over his shoulder.
Synonyms
ghost
The village is said to be haunted by ghosts.
spirit
Do you believe in the existence of evil spirits?
shadow
He was a shadow of his former self.
phantom
Many people claimed to have seen the phantom.
spectre
His spectre is said to walk the castle battlements.
manes
apparition
She recognized one of the women as the apparition she had seen.
eidolon
kehua (New Zealand)
7 (noun)
Synonyms
dimness
gloom
the gloom of a foggy November morning
twilight
the deepening autumn twilight
dusk (poetic)
She turned and disappeared into the dusk.
obscurity
the vast branches vanished into deep indigo obscurity above my head
murkiness
gloominess
semidarkness
(plural noun)
Definition
sunglasses
film stars who think it's cool to wear shades inside
Synonyms
sunglasses
dark glasses
Raybans (trademark)
1 (verb)
Definition
to make darker or dimmer
a health resort whose beaches are shaded by palm trees
Synonyms
darken
A storm darkened the sky.
shadow
The hood shadowed her face.
cloud
dim
The dusk sky dims to a chilly indigo.
cast a shadow over
shut out the light
2 (verb)
Definition
to screen or protect from heat or light
You've got to shade your eyes or close them altogether.
Synonyms
cover
the black patch which covered his left eye
protect
He vowed to protect them.
screen
The road is screened by a block of flats.
hide
The compound was hidden by trees and shrubs.
shield
He shielded his head from the sun with an old sack.
conceal
The device, concealed in a dustbin, was defused by police.
obscure
The building is almost completely obscured by a huge banner.
veil
Her hair swept across her face, as if to veil it.
mute
3 (verb)
Definition
to change slightly or by degrees
As the dusk shaded into night we drove slowly.
Synonyms
turn
She turned the house into a beautiful home.
transmute
change gradually
idiom
See put something or someone in the shade
Additional synonyms
in the sense of apparition
Definition
a ghost or ghostlike figure
She recognized one of the women as the apparition she had seen.
Synonyms
ghost,
spirit,
shade (literary),
phantom,
spectre,
spook (informal),
wraith,
chimera,
revenant,
visitant,
eidolon,
atua (New Zealand),
kehua (New Zealand)
in the sense of blind
Definition
a shade for a window
Hang the blind straight.
Synonyms
shutter,
cover,
screen,
shade,
canopy,
louvre,
awning,
Venetian blind,
roller blind
in the sense of canopy
Definition
a rooflike covering over an altar, niche, or door
The dais is covered with a silk brocade canopy.
Synonyms
awning,
tester,
covering,
shade,
shelter,
sunshade,
baldachin
Synonyms of 'shade'
shade
Explore 'shade' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cloud
Definition
to make or become more difficult to see through
Synonyms
obscure,
shadow,
shade,
eclipse,
veil,
obfuscate (formal)
in the sense of colour
Definition
a colour, such as a red or green, that possesses hue, as opposed to black, white, or grey
The badges come in twenty different colours and shapes.
Synonyms
hue,
tone,
shade,
tint,
tinge,
tincture,
colourway
in the sense of conceal
Definition
to cover and hide
The device, concealed in a dustbin, was defused by police.
Synonyms
hide,
bury,
stash (informal),
secrete,
cover,
screen,
disguise,
obscure,
camouflage
in the sense of covering
Sawdust was used as a hygienic floor covering.
Synonyms
cover,
protection,
coating,
overlay,
housing,
casing,
top,
clothing,
wrapping,
wrap,
shelter,
layer,
blanket,
wrapper
in the sense of curtain
Definition
something forming a barrier or screen
a curtain of cigarette smoke
Synonyms
screen,
veil,
shroud,
pall
in the sense of degree
Definition
a stage in a scale of relative amount or intensity
They achieved varying degrees of success.
Synonyms
amount,
measure,
rate,
level,
stage,
extent,
grade,
proportion,
gradation
in the sense of dim
Definition
to become or cause to become dim
The dusk sky dims to a chilly indigo.
Synonyms
darken,
dull,
blacken,
cloud over,
grow dark,
become leaden
in the sense of dusk
She turned and disappeared into the dusk.
Synonyms
shade,
darkness,
gloom,
obscurity,
murk,
shadowiness
in the sense of gloom
Definition
partial or total darkness
the gloom of a foggy November morning
Synonyms
darkness,
dark,
shadow,
cloud,
shade,
twilight,
dusk (poetic),
obscurity,
blackness,
dullness,
murk,
dimness,
murkiness,
cloudiness,
gloominess,
duskiness
in the sense of gradation
Definition
a stage in such a series or progression
gradations of social statussmall marks like the gradations on a school ruler
Synonyms
stage,
level,
position,
rank,
place,
point,
mark,
step,
degree,
grade,
measurement,
notch (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of hide
Definition
to obscure or cover (something) from view
The compound was hidden by trees and shrubs.
Synonyms
obscure,
cover,
screen,
bury,
shelter,
mask,
disguise,
conceal,
eclipse,
veil,
cloak,
shroud,
camouflage,
blot out
in the sense of hint
Definition
a small amount
I glanced at her and saw no hint of irony on her face.
Synonyms
trace,
touch,
suggestion,
taste,
breath,
dash,
whisper,
suspicion,
tinge,
whiff,
speck,
undertone,
soupçon
in the sense of obscure
Definition
to make unclear or vague
The building is almost completely obscured by a huge banner.
Synonyms
hide,
cover (up),
screen,
mask,
disguise,
conceal,
veil,
cloak,
shroud,
camouflage,
envelop,
encase,
enshroud
in the sense of obscurity
the vast branches vanished into deep indigo obscurity above my head
Synonyms
darkness,
dark,
shadows,
shade,
gloom,
haze,
blackness,
murk,
dimness,
murkiness,
haziness,
duskiness,
shadiness,
shadowiness,
indistinctness
in the sense of phantom
Definition
an apparition or spectre
Many people claimed to have seen the phantom.
Synonyms
spectre,
ghost,
spirit,
shade (literary),
spook (informal),
apparition,
wraith,
revenant,
phantasm,
eidolon
in the sense of protect
Definition
to defend from trouble, harm, or loss
He vowed to protect them.
Synonyms
keep someone safe,
defend,
keep,
support,
save,
guard,
secure,
preserve,
look after,
foster,
shelter,
shield,
care for,
harbour,
safeguard,
watch over,
stick up for (informal),
cover up for,
chaperon,
give someone sanctuary,
take someone under your wing,
mount or stand guard over
in the sense of shelter
Definition
something that provides cover or protection from weather or danger
a bus shelter
Synonyms
cover,
screen,
awning,
shiel (Scottish)
in the sense of shield
Definition
any person or thing that protects, hides, or defends
The wall provided a shield from the wind.
Synonyms
protection,
cover,
defence,
screen,
guard,
ward (archaic),
shelter,
safeguard,
aegis,
rampart,
bulwark
in the sense of shield
Definition
to protect, hide, or defend (someone or something) from danger or harm
He shielded his head from the sun with an old sack.
Synonyms
protect,
cover,
screen,
guard,
defend,
shelter,
safeguard
in the sense of spectre
Definition
a ghost
His spectre is said to walk the castle battlements.
Synonyms
ghost,
spirit,
phantom,
presence,
vision,
shadow,
shade (literary),
apparition,
wraith,
eidolon,
kehua (New Zealand)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of spirit
Definition
a supernatural being, such as a ghost
Do you believe in the existence of evil spirits?
Synonyms
ghost,
phantom,
spectre,
vision,
shadow,
shade (literary),
spook (informal),
apparition,
sprite,
eidolon,
atua (New Zealand),
kehua (New Zealand)
in the sense of suggestion
that fashionably faint suggestion of a tan
Synonyms
trace,
touch,
hint,
shadow,
impression,
breath,
indication,
whisper,
suspicion,
ghost,
intimation
in the sense of suspicion
Definition
a slight trace
large blooms of white with a suspicion of pale pink
Synonyms
trace,
touch,
hint,
shadow,
suggestion,
strain,
shade,
streak,
tinge,
glimmer,
soupçon
in the sense of tint
Definition
a shade of a colour, esp. a pale one
Its large leaves often show a delicate purple tint.
Synonyms
shade,
colour,
tone,
hue,
cast
in the sense of tone
Definition
the quality of a given colour, as modified by mixture with white or black
Each brick also varies slightly in tone.
Synonyms
colour,
cast,
shade,
tint,
tinge,
hue
in the sense of trace
Definition
an amount of something so small that it is barely noticeable
Wash them in cold water to remove all traces of sand.
Synonyms
bit,
drop,
touch,
shadow,
suggestion,
hint,
dash,
suspicion,
tinge,
trifle,
whiff,
jot,
tincture,
iota
in the sense of twilight
Definition
the soft dim light that occurs when the sun is just below the horizon after sunset
the deepening autumn twilight
Synonyms
half-light,
gloom,
dimness,
semi-darkness
in the sense of veil
Definition
a piece of thin cloth, usually as part of a hat or headdress, used to cover a woman's face
She swathed her face in a veil of decorative muslin.