shade
/ʃeid/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- Relative darkness caused by an object blocking light: An area where direct sunlight is blocked, resulting in cooler temperatures and less light.
- A slight variation or degree of a color, feeling, or meaning: A subtle difference within a broader category.
- A device or object used to block or soften light: Something that provides protection from direct light.
- A ghost or spirit: A spectral or haunting presence (archaic or literary).
- A very small amount or degree: A tiny bit of something.
Verb:
- To block or screen from direct light or heat: To provide protection from the sun or a bright light source.
- To darken or color with parallel lines or a darker tone: To represent the effect of shadows in a drawing.
- To change or vary by slight degrees: To transition gradually from one state, color, or tone to another.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- It's much cooler in the shade of the oak tree.
- She picked a beautiful shade of blue for the walls.
- Please pull down the window shade.
- He felt a shade of doubt about the plan.
Verb:
- He used his hand to shade his eyes from the sun.
- The artist carefully shaded the drawing to create depth.
- The color shades from deep purple to a soft lavender at the edges.
Advanced Usage
"to put someone/something in the shade": To be so superior as to make another person or thing seem insignificant by comparison.
- Her brilliant performance put all the other actors in the shade.
"shades of (something/someone)": Used to suggest a reminder or similarity to something in the past.
- His stubborn attitude was shades of his grandfather.
Variants and Related Words
Shading (n): The use of marks or colors to represent light and shadow in a picture.
- The shading in this sketch is very skillful.
Shady (adj): Full of shade; situated in shade. Also, of questionable honesty or character.
- We found a shady spot for our picnic.
Lampshade (n): A cover placed over a lamp to soften or direct its light.
- The fabric lampshade created a warm glow.
Synonyms
- Noun: Shadow, hue, tint, tinge, ghost, specter, nuance.
- Verb: Shadow, screen, shield, darken, dim.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Shade into: To change or merge gradually into something else.
- In the twilight, the blue of the sky shaded into a deep purple.
Related Idioms
A shade better/worse/more etc.: A very small amount better, worse, more, etc.
- This coffee is a shade too bitter for my taste.
Not a shade of difference: No difference at all.
- There was not a shade of difference between the two proposals.
Noun
- a representation of the effect of shadows in a picture or drawing (as by shading or darker pigment)
- a mental representation of some haunting experience
- he looked like he had seen a ghost
- it aroused specters from his past
- a slight amount or degree of difference
- a tad too expensive
- not a tad of difference
- the new model is a shade better than the old one
- a position of relative inferiority
- an achievement that puts everything else in the shade
- his brother's success left him in the shade
- a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude
- without understanding the finer nuances you can't enjoy the humor
- don't argue about shades of meaning
- protective covering that protects something from direct sunlight
- they used umbrellas as shades
- as the sun moved he readjusted the shade
- a quality of a given color that differs slightly from another color
- after several trials he mixed the shade of pink that she wanted
- relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
- it is much cooler in the shade
- there's too much shadiness to take good photographs
Verb
- pass from one quality such as color to another by a slight degree
- the butterfly wings shade to yellow
- vary slightly
- shade the meaning
- protect from light, heat, or view
- Shade your eyes when you step out into the bright sunlight
- represent the effect of shade or shadow on
- cast a shadow over