shade

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: comparative darkness or obscurity owing to interception of the rays of light
b
: relative obscurity or retirement
2
a
: shelter (as by foliage) from the heat and glare of sunlight
b
: a place sheltered from the sun
3
: an evanescent or unreal appearance
4
shades plural
a
: the shadows that gather as darkness comes on
5
a
: a disembodied spirit : ghost
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
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
b
: a flexible screen usually mounted on a roller for regulating the light or the view through a window
c
shades plural : sunglasses
7
a
: the reproduction of the effect of shade in painting or drawing
b
: a subdued or somber feature
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
9
a
: a minute difference or variation : nuance
b
: a minute degree or quantity
10
: a facial expression of sadness or displeasure
shadeless adjective

shade

2 of 2

verb

shaded; shading

transitive verb

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
a
: to represent the effect of shade or shadow on
b
: to add shading to
c
: to color so that the shades pass gradually from one to another
6
: to change by gradual transition or qualification
7
: to reduce slightly
shade a price
8
: slant, bias

intransitive verb

1
: to pass by slight changes or imperceptible degrees
2
: to undergo or exhibit minute difference or variation
shader noun
Phrases
throw shade
US slang
: to express contempt or disrespect for someone publicly especially by subtle or indirect insults or criticisms
Christopher Oram's elegant set is a pillared palazzo; at cafe tables wasp-waisted women sip tiny cups of espresso and throw shade at their rivals from behind dark glasses …Sam Marlowe

Examples of shade in a Sentence

Noun The buildings cast shade on the plaza. The tree provided plenty of shade. These plants grow well in shade. It was a hot sunny day, but luckily their seats for the game were in the shade. We sat in the shade of a willow tree. He used his hand as a shade as he looked out into the bright sunlight. a lamp with a broken shade She pulled down the shades. She was wearing a cool pair of shades. Verb Several large trees shade the house. She shaded the drawing to give it depth. The shaded part of the graph represents the amount of sales. The article shaded the truth by revealing only one side of the story.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The Airbrush Corset jacket comes in three colors: black, white, and a pink shade called soft mulberry. Rachel Trujillo, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2024 This design was created in a deep-blue shade using Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD), which both preserves and enhances the depth of the pattern and maximizes the play of light. Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024 The roof’s overlapping layers are intended to provide shade from the intense Las Vegas sun while also allowing natural light into the ballpark. George Ramsay, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024 Also, the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Sublime Flush is also a universally flattering shade. Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 5 Mar. 2024 Her brows were lightened to a strawberry blonde shade, and her lips were painted an ultra glossy shade of black. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 5 Mar. 2024 Deutch’s new hairstyle was first revealed in an Instagram video posted by celebrity colorist Tracey Cunningham, who used Redken Shades EQ range to bring the actress from her dark brunette shade to a soft golden blonde. Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024 In penny loafers or slouchy tote bags, the shade is chic and easy to wear, nodding to the runways without feeling overly on-trend. Christina Holevas, Vogue, 1 Mar. 2024 Using a simple color wheel and just a few shades, your cake can be topped with a rainbow of icing. Annemarie Dooling, USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024
Verb
Planned amenities at the development include two pools (the only place where gas will be used for heating), shaded outdoor workstations and walkways to connect with nearby hiking trails. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2024 Opponents have caught on, sagging off the 6-foot-4 guard and shading Charlotte’s front court duo of Jackson and Milicic. Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 7 Mar. 2024 In the first trailer for the upcoming special, the teary-eyed girls reminisce about their time on the show, unpack the complicated legacy of their former dance instructor, and in true Dance Moms fashion, don’t hesitate to shade their fellow dancers for skipping out on the reunion. Shania Russell, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024 But Kaya Scodelario, as a co-lead, gets far more room to shade in the character’s nuances than Dockery ever did. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2024 Across from her pink building there is a fruit stand shaded by a stone portico. Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Feb. 2024 Since the beginning of the year, parts of the region (shaded in dark blue on the map below) have had at least 200 percent — about double — of normal precipitation. A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2024 The opaque title shaded the fact that Mr. Kirby, who had impressed Mr. Biden during the Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021, would share some duties with Ms. Jean-Pierre, like briefing reporters on foreign affairs. Michael M. Grynbaum, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2024 The legendary creative — deemed the most influential makeup artist in the world by Vogue magazine — transformed models into living dolls, complete with porcelain skin, pencil-thin eyebrows and strikingly shaded eyes, lips and cheeks. Claire Coleman, CNN, 2 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shade.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English sceadu; akin to Old High German scato shadow, Greek skotos darkness

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of shade was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near shade

Cite this Entry

“Shade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shade. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

shade

1 of 2 noun
1
: partial darkness
the trees cast shade
2
: space sheltered from the heat and bright light of the sun
sit in the shade of a tree
3
plural : the shadows that gather as darkness falls
the shades of night
4
5
: something that blocks off or cuts down light, sun, or heat
a lamp shade
a window shade
6
: the darkening of some objects in a painting or drawing to suggest that they are in shade
7
: the darkness or lightness of a color
four shades of brown
8
: a very small difference or amount
just a shade taller
shades of meaning
shadeless adjective

shade

2 of 2 verb
shaded; shading
1
: to shelter from light or heat
2
: to mark with changes of light or color
shade a drawing
3
: to show or begin to have slight differences of color, value, or meaning
shader noun

More from Merriam-Webster on shade

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