shadow
/'ʃædou/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface: The fundamental physical phenomenon where light is blocked.
- An inseparable companion; a person who follows another closely: A person who constantly accompanies another.
- A dominating and pervasive presence or influence: Something that overshadows or diminishes the recognition of another.
- Refuge or shelter: A place of protection or concealment.
- A very small amount; a trace: A slight indication or remnant of something.
- A feeling of gloom, sadness, or threat: A premonition or sense of impending trouble.
- An illusion or insubstantial thing: Something perceived but not real or tangible.
- An area of darkness: A specific unlit area.
Verb:
- To cast a shadow over; to darken or obscure: To make an area dark or to figuratively cast gloom.
- To follow and observe (someone) closely and secretly: To trail someone, especially for surveillance.
- To represent faintly or prophetically: To foreshadow or hint at something to come.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- The tree cast a long shadow on the grass in the evening sun.
- Ever since the incident, the detective has been my shadow, never leaving my side.
- He worked for years in the shadow of his famous mentor.
- The old barn provided shadow from the midday heat.
- There wasn't a shadow of doubt in her mind about his innocence.
- The scandal cast a shadow over the entire election campaign.
- Chasing after that dream is like chasing a shadow.
- The shadows in the corner of the room made her nervous.
Verb:
- The tall buildings shadow the narrow streets below.
- The agent was assigned to shadow the diplomat for a week.
- The early poems shadow forth the themes of his later masterpieces.
Advanced Usage
- "To be afraid of one's own shadow": To be extremely timid or fearful.
- Since the break-in, she's been afraid of her own shadow.
- "To be a shadow of one's former self": To be much less healthy, strong, or capable than before.
- After his long illness, he was just a shadow of his former self.
- "Five o'clock shadow": The slight beard growth visible on a man's face later in the day.
- He needed a shave to get rid of his five o'clock shadow.
Variants and Related Words
- Shadowy (adj): Full of shadows; dim; vague or insubstantial.
- A shadowy figure appeared in the doorway.
- Shadowing (n): The act of following someone secretly.
- The suspect was under constant shadowing.
- Foreshadow (v): To be a warning or indication of a future event.
- The dark clouds foreshadowed the coming storm.
Synonyms
- Noun: Shade, silhouette, trace, hint, specter, follower, tail.
- Verb: Darken, overshadow, trail, follow, tail, dog.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Shadow forth (literary): To represent faintly; to foreshadow.
- The artist's sketches shadow forth the final sculpture's grandeur.
Related Idioms
- Beyond a shadow of a doubt: With absolute certainty.
- The evidence proved his guilt beyond a shadow of a doubt.
- Live in the shadow of: To live while being dominated or overlooked because of someone else's fame or success.
- The younger sister always lived in the shadow of her athletic sibling.
Noun
- an inseparable companion
- the poor child was his mother's shadow
- a spy employed to follow someone and report their movements
- a dominating and pervasive presence
- he received little recognition working in the shadow of his father
- refuge from danger or observation
- he felt secure in his father's shadow
- an indication that something has been present
- there wasn't a trace of evidence for the claim
- a tincture of condescension
- a premonition of something adverse
- a shadow over his happiness
- something existing in perception only
- a ghostly apparition at midnight
- an unilluminated area
- he moved off into the darkness
- shade within clear boundaries
Verb
- make appear small by comparison
- This year's debt dwarfs that of last year
- cast a shadow over
- follow, usually without the person's knowledge
- The police are shadowing her