shade
area protected from direct sun
A place that is darker and cooler because something stops the sun or strong light.
in the shade (of [something])
- We ate lunch in the shade of a big oak tree.
- The children moved their chairs into the shade when the sun got too hot.
- Plants that like shade will grow well on this side of the house.
- Let’s find some shade before we get sunburned.
- We sat in the shade and drank water.
- The dog is sleeping in the shade of the car.
- Please park the car in the shade.
- I stood in the shade because the sun was strong.
particular tone of a color
A special kind or level of a color, for example light blue or dark blue.
a shade of [color]
- She tried on three different shades of red lipstick.
- The walls are painted in a soft shade of green.
- You can choose any shade of blue from this chart.
- This fabric comes in various shades, from pale pink to deep rose.
- I like this shade of yellow.
- Her eyes are a dark shade of brown.
- We painted the room a light shade of gray.
- That shirt is the wrong shade of blue for me.
window covering that blocks light
A cover on a window that you can pull up or down to stop light coming in.
pull / draw / raise / lower the shade
- She pulled down the shade to keep the room cool.
- The hotel room had heavy shades that blocked out all the light.
- He raised the shades to let the morning sun in.
- We need new window shades for the living room.
- Please pull down the shade.
- He opened the shades in the morning.
- The shades in this room are very old.
- She closed the shades before going to bed.
small amount or degree
A very small amount or level of something, often used when two things are almost the same.
a shade [comparative adjective]
- This model is a shade cheaper than the other one.
- Her answer was a shade different from mine.
- He looked a shade happier after he got the news.
- The new version is a shade better than the original.
- This car is a shade faster than that one.
- The room is a shade warmer today.
- Her dress is a shade darker than mine.
- He is a shade taller than his brother.
to protect something from light
To stop strong light from hitting something so it becomes darker and cooler.
to shade [something] (from [something])
- The tall buildings shade the park in the afternoon.
- She used her hand to shade her eyes from the sun.
- We planted trees to shade the patio during summer.
- Please shade the screen so I can see the image clearly.
- He put on a hat to shade his face.
- The umbrella shaded us from the sun.
- Clouds shaded the beach for a short time.
- A big tree shades our balcony.
to darken parts of a drawing
To color or draw on part of a picture so that it looks darker.
to shade [an area / a shape] (in)
- Shade the area between the two lines in your textbook.
- She carefully shaded the background to make the figures stand out.
- The art teacher showed us how to shade with a soft pencil.
- Lightly shade the circle to show that it is selected.
- Please shade the box on the form.
- The student shaded the wrong answer.
- He shaded the sky with a blue pencil.
- She shaded the face to make it look real.
sunglasses (usually plural "shades")
Sunglasses; dark glasses you wear to protect your eyes from the sun.
wear / put on / take off [one's] shades
- He walked in wearing dark shades and a leather jacket.
- Don’t forget your shades; it’s really bright outside.
- She bought a new pair of designer shades for the summer.
- I can’t see indoors with these shades on.
- He wears shades when he drives.
- She put on her shades before she left the house.
- My shades are on the table.
- I need new shades for the beach.
ghost or spirit of the dead
The spirit of someone who has died; a ghost (literary word).
the shade of [someone]
- The poet calls upon the shades of his ancestors for guidance.
- In the story, the hero is visited by the shade of his former teacher.
- Legends say the battlefield is haunted by the shades of fallen soldiers.
- He felt as if a silent shade followed him through the empty house.
- In this old story, a shade speaks to the king.
- The hero meets the shades of the dead in the underworld.
- A shade comes to warn him in a dream.
- Writers sometimes use the word "shade" to mean a ghost.
indirect insult or criticism
A way of saying bad or unkind things about someone in a secret or clever way, not directly.
throw shade (at [someone])
- Fans thought her comment about his acting was pure shade.
- There was a lot of shade in that interview with the politician.
- He denied throwing shade at his former bandmate on social media.
- The post was meant as a joke, but many read it as shade towards his coworkers.
- People said his tweet was shade.
- She doesn’t answer directly; she just gives shade.
- That joke was funny but also shade at her ex.
- He likes to throw shade at famous people online.
to insult someone indirectly
To say something that quietly attacks or laughs at someone without saying their name or being very direct.
to shade [someone]
- People said she shaded her co-star during the award speech.
- He’s always shading his boss on his private account.
- The article lightly shaded the company for its slow response.
- She felt hurt because her friend shaded her in that podcast episode.
- He shaded his ex in that song.
- She often shades people on Twitter.
- I think he was shading me with that joke.
- They shaded the team for losing again.
- Base: shade
- Plural: shade, shades
- Base: shade
- 3rd Person Singular: shades
- Present Participle: shading
- Past: shaded
a shade better
1slightly better than something
A little bit better, not a lot better.
- This version is a shade better than the last one.
- He’s a shade better at math than his brother.
- The second restaurant was a shade better, but still not great.
a shade of [color]
1a particular version of a color
A special kind or level of a color, like light blue or dark blue.
- The sofa is a shade of gray that matches the rug.
- Her dress is a beautiful shade of deep green.
- We chose a soft shade of yellow for the baby’s room.
in the shade
1located where sun is blocked
In a place where something stops the sun, so it is darker and cooler.
- Let’s sit in the shade until it cools down.
- The dog is lying in the shade under the table.
- They put the baby’s stroller in the shade.
put [someone/something] in the shade
1to outshine strongly by comparison
To be so good that another person or thing seems less good or not important.
- Her performance put all the others in the shade.
- The new model puts last year’s phones in the shade.
- His generosity put my small gift in the shade.
shades of gray
1many subtle differences, not simple
Many small differences between two ends, so something is not only good or bad, right or wrong.
- The issue isn’t simple; there are many shades of gray.
- Her novel explores the moral shades of gray in war.
- In real life, things are often shades of gray, not black and white.
shades of meaning
1subtle differences in meaning
Small, careful differences in meaning between words or ideas that are almost the same.
- The teacher explained the shades of meaning between "say", "tell", and "speak".
- Writers care about the shades of meaning that different words carry.
- Translation is difficult because of the many shades of meaning in each language.
throw shade
1criticize or insult indirectly
To say something that secretly attacks or laughs at someone, without speaking very directly.
- Fans thought she was throwing shade at her ex in that interview.
- He keeps throwing shade at other players on social media.
- The comedian threw shade at several politicians during the show.