plural shades
1
a
: comparative darkness or obscurity produced when something blocks the light of the sun
The buildings cast shade on the plaza.
b
: relative obscurity or retirement
This convention is so taken with [Sarah] Palin that even [presidential Republican candidate John] McCain occasionally seems cast in the shade.—William March and Billy House
2
: shelter (as by foliage) from the heat and glare of sunlight
The tree provides plenty of shade.
also
: a place sheltered from the sun
found a seat in the shade
3
: a lingering image of something passing away : something that has become reduced almost to nothing
Our waterways are very much alive, but most have been reduced to a shade of their former glory.—Michael Pollock
4
shades plural
a
chiefly literary
: the shadows that gather as darkness comes on : the growing darkness after sunset
… they were enveloped in the shades of night which they had no candle to disperse.—Thomas Hardy
b
archaic
: netherworld, hades
Your obligations to me, Sir, are not to cease with my life. They continue even beyond the grave … my being your zealous apologist in the shades.—Sarah Churchill
5
a
: a disembodied spirit : ghost
… the shade of Eurydice struggles frantically to follow Orpheus beyond the river of the dead.—David Cairns
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
… an otherworldliness that bears shades of Toni Morrison's magical realism.—Arifa Akbar
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 : lampshade
a lamp with a broken shade
b
: a flexible screen usually mounted on a roller for regulating the light or the view through a window see also window shade
c
7
a
: the reproduction of the effect of shade in painting or drawing
a landscape with contrasting areas of light and shade
b
: a subdued or somber feature (as of a work of art)
The lights and shades of the work were captured by the pianist.
8
a
: a color produced by a pigment or dye mixture having some black in it
b
: a color slightly different from the one under consideration
a bright shade of blue
9
a
: a minute difference or variation : nuance
a word with many shades of meaning
b
: a minute degree or quantity
She was just a shade taller than her father.
10
: a facial expression of sadness or displeasure
A shade of annoyance passed over the escort's face.—W. E. B. Du Bois
11
informal
: contempt or disrespect for someone or something expressed especially in an indirect or subtle way
… appeared to cast shade at the video app without mentioning it by name …—Miles Klee
… Mia's Twitter shade only came after Karen took a shot of her own …—Brice Sander
Now she used her set at the … festival to address her haters with some subtle shade …—Njera Perkins
No shade, but horror movies are not my thing.—@hyenasandgin, on X, formerly Twitter
see also throw shade
shaded; shading
1
a
: 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
5
6
: to change by gradual transition or qualification
7
: to reduce slightly
shade a price
1
: to pass by slight changes or imperceptible degrees
2
: to undergo or exhibit minute difference or variation
shader
noun
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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