Meaning & use
shade
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Meanings
noununcountable
A cooler, darker area where light from the sun is blocked.
Grammar: Used without an in general statements: sit in the shade.
Patterns
- in the shade
- the shade of something
We ate lunch in the shade of an old oak tree.
It was so hot that everyone sought shade.
The plant grows best in partial shade.
nouncountable
A particular degree or variety of a color, darker or lighter than another.
Grammar: Often followed by of and a color: a shade of blue.
Patterns
- a shade of something
She painted the room a pale shade of green.
Do you have this lipstick in a darker shade?
The sky turned a deep shade of orange.
nouncountableAmerican
A cover that cuts down light, such as for a lamp or window.
Grammar: Often a compound: lampshade, window shade.
He pulled down the shade to keep out the glare.
The lamp needs a new shade.
A broken window shade let the morning sun in.
nouncountable
A hint of a feeling, meaning or quality; a small amount.
Grammar: Often used in the plural for variety: shades of meaning.
Patterns
- a shade of something
- shades of something
There was a shade of doubt in her voice.
The word has several shades of meaning.
He was a shade too confident for the interview.
noununcountableslang
A subtle, indirect insult or show of disrespect, usually without naming the person.
Grammar: Mostly in the phrase throw shade at someone.
Patterns
- throw shade at someone
She threw shade at her rival in a vague social media post.
The comment was pure shade, though he never said her name.
Fans accused the singer of throwing shade at her ex.
Word forms
| plural | shades |
|---|
Common combinations
- in the shade
- The temperature in the shade was still thirty degrees.
- throw shade
- He likes to throw shade at other chefs on television.
- a shade of gray
- Her eyes were a pale shade of gray.
- provide shade
- Large trees provide shade for the playground.
- shades of meaning
- Translators must notice the shades of meaning in each word.
- cast a shade
- The tall building casts a shade over the garden.
Synonyms and how they differ
- shadow
- A shadow is the dark shape an object casts, while shade is the broader area of lower light.
- tint
- A tint is a light touch of color added to something, whereas shade is the overall tone.
- hue
- Hue is the basic color itself, such as red or blue, and shade is how dark or light it is.
- nuance
- Nuance is a fine difference in meaning, a close match for the figurative shades of meaning.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: shade or shadow?
shade vs shadow
A shadow is a specific dark figure of an object on a surface, while shade is a general area without direct sunlight.
Practice
Which meaning of shade fits: 'She threw shade at her old teammate in an interview'?
Choose one answer.
Throw shade is slang for criticizing someone indirectly. The other meanings relate to light or color.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “shade”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.