shadow
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shad·ow
(shăd′ō)n.
1.
a. A dark area or shape made by an object blocking rays of light.
b. The darkness or diminished light caused by the blocking of a light source: The back yard is in shadow all day long.
c. A darker area in a picture or photograph.
d. shadows The darkness following sunset.
2.
a. often shadows A darkened area of skin under the eye.
b. An incipient growth of beard that makes the skin look darker.
3. A feeling or cause of gloom or unhappiness: The argument cast a shadow on their friendship.
4.
a. A nearby or adjoining region; vicinity: grew up in the shadow of the ballpark.
b. A dominating presence or influence: spent years working in the shadow of the lab director.
5.
a. An imitation or inferior version: "The defenders of the Japanese home islands were already a shadow of the fighting forces American soldiers had encountered elsewhere" (James Carroll).
b. A phantom; a ghost.
c. An unsubstantial object of pursuit: spent the last part of his career chasing shadows.
6.
a. One, such as a detective or spy, that follows or trails another.
b. A constant companion.
c. Sports A player who guards an opponent closely.
7. A faint indication; a foreshadowing: a shadow of things to come.
8. An insignificant portion or amount; a trace: beyond a shadow of a doubt.
9. Shelter; protection: under the shadow of their corporate sponsor.
v. shad·owed, shad·ow·ing, shad·ows
v.tr.
1. To cast a shadow on; darken or shade: The leaves of the trees shadowed the ferns below.
2. To make gloomy or troubled, especially over time: He was shadowed by self-doubt.
3. To represent vaguely, mysteriously, or prophetically; foreshadow.
4. To darken in a painting or drawing; shade in.
5.
a. To follow, especially in secret; trail.
b. Sports To guard (an opponent) closely throughout the playing area.
v.intr.
To become downcast or gloomy: Her face shadowed with sorrow.
adj.
Not having official status: a shadow government of exiled leaders; a shadow cabinet.
[Middle English, from Old English sceaduwe, oblique case of sceadu, shade, shadow.]
shad′ow·er n.
Word History: Shade and shadow are not only related in meaning; historically they are the same word. In Old English, the ancestor of Modern English spoken a thousand years ago, nouns were inflected; that is, they had different forms depending on how they were used in a sentence. One of the inflected forms of the Old English noun sceadu, translatable as either "shade" or "shadow," was sceaduwe; this form was used when the word was preceded by a preposition (as in in sceaduwe, "in the shade, in shadow"). As time went on these two forms of the same word were interpreted as two separate words. The same thing happened to other Old English words, too: our mead and meadow come from two different case-forms of mǣd, the Old English word for "meadow."
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
shadow
(ˈʃædəʊ)n
1. a dark image or shape cast on a surface by the interception of light rays by an opaque body
2. an area of relative darkness
3. (Art Terms) the dark portions of a picture
4. a hint, image, or faint semblance: beyond a shadow of a doubt.
5. a remnant or vestige: a shadow of one's past self.
6. a reflection
7. a threatening influence; blight: a shadow over one's happiness.
8. a spectre
9. an inseparable companion
10. a person who trails another in secret, such as a detective
11. (Medicine) med a dark area on an X-ray film representing an opaque structure or part
12. (Psychology) (in Jungian psychology) the archetype that represents man's animal ancestors
13. archaic or rare protection or shelter
14. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (modifier) Brit designating a member or members of the main opposition party in Parliament who would hold ministerial office if their party were in power: shadow Chancellor; shadow cabinet.
15. (Economics) (modifier) denoting the activities of financial institutions that do not accept deposits from investors : shadow banking.
vb (tr)
16. to cast a shadow over
17. to make dark or gloomy; blight
18. to shade from light
19. to follow or trail secretly
20. (often foll by forth) to represent vaguely
21. (Art Terms) painting drawing another word for shade13
[Old English sceadwe, oblique case of sceadu shade; related to Dutch schaduw]
ˈshadower n
ˈshadowless adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
shad•ow
(ˈʃæd oʊ)n.
1. a dark figure or image cast on the ground or other surface by a body intercepting light.
2. shade or comparative darkness.
3. shadows, darkness, esp. that coming after sunset.
4. shelter or protection.
5. a slight suggestion; trace: beyond the shadow of a doubt.
6. a specter or ghost.
7. a hint or intimation.
8. a mere semblance: the shadow of power.
9. a reflected image.
10. (in painting, drawing, graphics, etc.) the dark part of a picture, esp. as representing the absence of illumination.
11. a period or instance of gloom, unhappiness, or the like.
12. a dominant or pervasive threat: the shadow of war.
13. an inseparable companion.
14. a spy or detective.
v.t. 15. to cover with shadow.
16. to cast a gloom over; cloud.
17. to screen or protect, as from light.
18. to follow the movements of secretly.
19. to represent faintly, prophetically, etc. (often fol. by forth).
20. Archaic. to shelter or protect.
21. Archaic. to shade in painting, drawing, etc.
adj. 22. of or pertaining to a shadow cabinet.
23. without official authority: a shadow government.
[before 900; (n.) Middle English sch(e)adew(e), schadow, shadw(e), Old English scead(u)we, oblique case of sceadu shade; (v.) Middle English; Old English sceadwian to protect, overshadow]
shad′ow•er, n.
shad′ow•less, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Shadow
- His shadow dragging like a photographer’s cloth behind him —Elizabeth Bishop
- Long shadows deep as oil —Philip Levine
- My shadow spilled over the grass like great leaks of ink —Henry Van Dyke
- Shadows black as parts of dreams —David Denby
- Shadows deep as caves —Jerry Bumpus
- Shadows [of elm trees] falling all over her head and shoulder like a web —Ellen Gilchrist
- Shadows lay like broad hurdles across my path —Beryl Markham
- The whole shadow of Man is only as big as his hat —Elizabeth Bishop
Similes Dictionary, 1st Edition. © 1988 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
shadow
– shade1. 'shadow'
A shadow is a dark shape made on a surface when something stands between a light and the surface.
The tree cast a shadow over the garden.
If a place is dark because something prevents light from reaching it, you can say that it is in shadow.
The whole valley is in shadow.
2. 'shade'
You refer to an area that is dark and cool because the sun cannot reach it as the shade.
They sat in the shade and read.
I moved my chair into the shade.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
shadow
Past participle: shadowed
Gerund: shadowing
| Imperative |
|---|
| shadow |
| shadow |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  shadow - shade within clear boundaries shade, shadiness, shadowiness - 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" umbra - a region of complete shadow resulting from total obstruction of light penumbra - a fringe region of partial shadow around an umbra |
| 2. | shadow - an unilluminated area; "he moved off into the darkness" scene - the place where some action occurs; "the police returned to the scene of the crime" | |
| 3. |  shadow - something existing in perception only; "a ghostly apparition at midnight"flying saucer, UFO, unidentified flying object - an (apparently) flying object whose nature is unknown; especially those considered to have extraterrestrial origins Flying Dutchman - a phantom ship that is said to appear in storms near the Cape of Good Hope | |
| 4. | shadow - a premonition of something adverse; "a shadow over his happiness" boding, foreboding, premonition, presentiment - a feeling of evil to come; "a steadily escalating sense of foreboding"; "the lawyer had a presentiment that the judge would dismiss the case" | |
| 5. |  shadow - an indication that something has been present; "there wasn't a trace of evidence for the claim"; "a tincture of condescension"footprint - a trace suggesting that something was once present or felt or otherwise important; "the footprints of an earlier civilization" indicant, indication - something that serves to indicate or suggest; "an indication of foul play"; "indications of strain"; "symptoms are the prime indicants of disease" | |
| 6. | shadow - refuge from danger or observation; "he felt secure in his father's shadow" | |
| 7. | shadow - a dominating and pervasive presence; "he received little recognition working in the shadow of his father" presence - the state of being present; current existence; "he tested for the presence of radon" | |
| 8. | shadow - a spy employed to follow someone and report their movements follower - someone who travels behind or pursues another spy - a secret watcher; someone who secretly watches other people; "my spies tell me that you had a good time last night" | |
| 9. | shadow - an inseparable companion; "the poor child was his mother's shadow" follower - someone who travels behind or pursues another | |
| Verb | 1. | shadow - follow, usually without the person's knowledge; "The police are shadowing her" follow - to travel behind, go after, come after; "The ducklings followed their mother around the pond"; "Please follow the guide through the museum" |
| 2. | shadow - cast a shadow over darken - make dark or darker; "darken a room" | |
| 3. | shadow - make appear small by comparison; "This year's debt dwarfs that of last year" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
shadow
noun
1. silhouette, shape, outline, profile, penumbra All he could see was his shadow.
2. shade, dimness, darkness, gloom, cover, protection, shelter, dusk, obscurity, gloaming (Scot. or poetic), gathering darkness Most of the lake was in shadow.
3. ghost, apology, remnant, vestige, travesty, poor imitation, poor representation, inferior version, weak image He was a shadow of his former self.
verb
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
shadow
noun1. Comparative darkness that results from the blocking of light rays:
2. To make dim or indistinct:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
بُقْعَة مُظْلِمَهشَيء قَليل، ذَرَّه منظِل، خَيالظَلام، عَتْمَهظِلّ
сянка
ombra
stínstínitsledovatkruhpřítmí
skyggemørke
vari
varjovarjostaavarjostajavarjostus
sjena
árnyárnyékkétség: a kétség árnyéka
bayangan
skuggiskyggja ávotturbaugarhafa náiî eftirlit meî
影影付き
그림자
umbra
kaip šešėlisnusibaigęspasidaręs panašus į šešėlį
aizsegtapēnotēnaizsekotkrēsla
prítmie
senca
skugga
เงา
cái bóng
shadow
[ˈʃædəʊ]A. N
1. (= dark shape) → sombra f; (= darkness) → oscuridad f, tinieblas fpl
in the shadow → a la sombra
five o'clock shadow → barba f de ocho horas
doctors have discovered a shadow on his lung → los médicos le han detectado una sombra or mancha en el pulmón
to cast a shadow over sth (fig) → ensombrecer algo
to live in the shadow of sth/sb → vivir eclipsado por algo/algn
in the shadow → a la sombra
five o'clock shadow → barba f de ocho horas
doctors have discovered a shadow on his lung → los médicos le han detectado una sombra or mancha en el pulmón
to cast a shadow over sth (fig) → ensombrecer algo
to live in the shadow of sth/sb → vivir eclipsado por algo/algn
3. (fig) (= faithful companion) → sombra f
4. (Pol) miembro de la oposición con un cargo análogo al de ministro
Clarke flung at his shadow the accusation that he was a "tabloid politician" → Clarke lanzó a su homólogo en la oposición la acusación de ser un "político sensacionalista"
Clarke flung at his shadow the accusation that he was a "tabloid politician" → Clarke lanzó a su homólogo en la oposición la acusación de ser un "político sensacionalista"
B. VT
2. (= darken) → ensombrecer, oscurecer
the hood shadowed her face → la capucha ensombrecía or oscurecía su rostro
the hood shadowed her face → la capucha ensombrecía or oscurecía su rostro
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
shadow
[ˈʃædəʊ] n → ombre f
in the shadow of sth → à l'ombre de qch
to live in sb's shadow (fig) → vivre dans l'ombre de qn
without a shadow of doubt → sans l'ombre d'un doute
a shadow of one's former self
He is a shadow of his former self → Il n'est plus que l'ombre de lui-même.
in the shadow of sth → à l'ombre de qch
to live in sb's shadow (fig) → vivre dans l'ombre de qn
without a shadow of doubt → sans l'ombre d'un doute
a shadow of one's former self
He is a shadow of his former self → Il n'est plus que l'ombre de lui-même.
vt
(= follow) → filer
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
shadow
n
(lit, fig) → Schatten m (also Med, Art); (= growth of beard) → Anflug m → von Bartstoppeln; (fig: = threat) → (Be)drohung f; in the shadow → im Schatten; in the shadows → im Dunkel; the valley of the shadow of death → das finstere Tal des Todes; somebody lives under the shadow of something → etw liegt or lastet wie ein Schatten auf jdm; to be in somebody’s shadow (fig) → in jds Schatten (dat) → stehen; to be afraid of one’s own shadow (fig) → sich vor seinem eigenen Schatten fürchten; to wear oneself to a shadow → sich aufreiben, sich zugrunde or zu Grunde richten; to be just a shadow of one’s former self → nur noch ein Schatten seiner selbst sein; to chase shadows (fig) → einem Phantom or Schatten nachjagen
(= trace) → Spur f; a shadow of hope → ein Hoffnungsschimmer m; without a shadow of a doubt → ohne den geringsten Zweifel
attr (Brit Pol) → Schatten-; shadow government → Schattenregierung f; shadow Foreign Secretary → Schattenaußenminister(in) m(f), → Außenminister(in) m(f) → des Schattenkabinetts
vt
(= darken) → Schatten werfen auf (+acc); (fig) → überschatten; the room is shadowed by a high wall → das Zimmer liegt im Schatten einer hohen Mauer
(= follow) → beschatten (inf)
shadow
:shadow-boxing
n (lit, fig) → Schattenboxen nt
shadow cabinet
n (Brit Pol) → Schattenkabinett nt
shadow earnings
pl (Pol) → Schatteneinkommen nt
shadow mask
n (Tech) → Lochmaske f
shadow minister
n (Brit Pol) → Schattenminister(in) m(f)
shadow printing
n (Comput) → Schattendruck m
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
shadow
[ˈʃædəʊ]1. n → ombra
in shadow → in ombra, all'ombra
in the shadow (of) → all'ombra (di)
without or beyond a shadow of a doubt → senz'ombra di dubbio
to cast a shadow over → proiettare or fare ombra su (fig) → gettare un'ombra su, offuscare
he's only a shadow of his former self → è diventato l'ombra di se stesso
to have shadows under one's eyes → avere le occhiaie
in shadow → in ombra, all'ombra
in the shadow (of) → all'ombra (di)
without or beyond a shadow of a doubt → senz'ombra di dubbio
to cast a shadow over → proiettare or fare ombra su (fig) → gettare un'ombra su, offuscare
he's only a shadow of his former self → è diventato l'ombra di se stesso
to have shadows under one's eyes → avere le occhiaie
2. vt (follow) → pedinare
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
shadow
(ˈʃӕdəu) noun1. (a patch of) shade on the ground etc caused by an object blocking the light. We are in the shadow of that building.
2. (in plural with the) darkness or partial darkness caused by lack of (direct) light. The child was afraid that wild animals were lurking in the shadows at the corner of his bedroom.
3. a dark patch or area. You look tired – there are shadows under your eyes.
4. a very slight amount. There's not a shadow of doubt that he stole the money.
verb1. to hide or darken with shadow. A broad hat shadowed her face.
2. to follow closely, especially as a detective, spy etc. We shadowed him for a week.
ˈshadowy adjective1. full of shadows. shadowy corners.
2. dark and indistinct. A shadowy figure went past.
ˈshadowiness nounworn to a shadow
made thin and weary through eg hard work. She was worn to a shadow after months of nursing her sick husband.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
shadow
→ ظِلّ stín skygge Schatten ίσκιος sombra varjo ombre sjena ombra 影 그림자 schaduw skygge cień sombra тень skugga เงา gölge cái bóng 影子Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
shad·ow
n. sombra; opacidad.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012