Definition of 'shadow'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense shadows
, present participle shadowing
, past tense, past participle shadowed
1. countable noun
A shadow is a dark shape on a surface that is made when something stands between a light and the surface.
2. uncountable noun [oft in NOUN]
Shadow is darkness in a place caused by something preventing light from reaching it.
4. verb
If someone shadows you, they follow you very closely wherever you go.
5. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A British Member of Parliament who is a member of the shadow cabinet or who is a shadow cabinet minister belongs to the main opposition party and takes a special interest
in matters which are the responsibility of a particular government minister.
Shadow is also a noun.
6.
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
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Word Frequency
shadow in British English
noun
2.
an area of relative darkness
3.
the dark portions of a picture
6.
8.
a spectre
9.
12.
14. (modifier) British
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. (modifier)
denoting the activities of financial institutions that do not accept deposits from investors
shadow banking
verb (transitive)
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
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
shadower (ˈshadower) noun
shadowless (ˈshadowless)
adjective
Word origin
Old English sceadwe, oblique case of sceadu shade; related to Dutch schaduwWord Frequency
shadow in American English
noun
1.
a definite area of shade cast upon a surface by a body intercepting the light rays
2.
the dark image made by such a body
4.
a.
b.
anything causing gloom, doubt, etc.
5.
a shaded area in a picture or X-ray
6.
a dark area, as of a very short growth of beard
7.
a mirrored image; reflection
10.
b.
remnant; vestige
a mere shadow of his former self
13. Rare
protection or shelter
verb transitive
14. Archaic
a.
to shelter from light or heat
b.
to shelter; protect
15.
to throw a shadow upon
16.
to make dark or gloomy; cloud
verb intransitive
19.
to change gradually
adjective
22.
darker, indistinct, not plainly perceived, etc.
Idioms:
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
shadower (ˈshadower)
noun
shadowless (ˈshadowless)
adjective
Word Frequency
shadow in American English
(ˈʃædou)
noun
1.
a dark figure or image cast on the ground or some surface by a body intercepting light
2.
shade or comparative darkness, as in an area
3. See shadows
4.
shelter; protection
sanctuary in the shadow of the church
6.
a specter or ghost
pursued by shadows
9.
a reflected image
10. (in painting, drawing, graphics, etc.)
a.
the representation of the absence of light on a form
b.
the dark part of a picture, esp. as representing the absence of illumination
Rembrandt's figures often emerge gradually from the shadows
11. (in architectural shades and shadows)
a dark figure or image cast by an object or part of an object upon a surface that
would otherwise be illuminated by the theoretical light source
Compare shade (sense 16)12.
a period or instance of gloom, unhappiness, mistrust, doubt, dissension, or the like, as in friendship or one's life
Their relationship was not without shadows
13.
a dominant or pervasive threat, influence, or atmosphere, esp. one causing gloom, fear, doubt, or the like
They lived under the shadow of war
14.
an inseparable companion
The dog was his shadow
15.
a person who follows another in order to keep watch upon that person, as a spy or detective
transitive verb
16.
to overspread with shadow; shade
17.
to cast a gloom over; cloud
The incident shadowed their meeting
18.
to screen or protect from light, heat, etc.; shade
19.
to follow (a person) about secretly, in order to keep watch over his or her movements
20. (often fol. by forth)
to represent faintly, prophetically, etc.
21. archaic
to shelter or protect
adjective
SYNONYMS 1. See shade.23.
of or pertaining to a shadow cabinet
24.
without official authority
a shadow government
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
shadower noun
shadowless
adjective
shadowlike
adjective
Word origin
[bef. 900; (n.) ME sch(e)adew(e), schadow, shadw(e), OE scead(u)we, obl. case of sceadu shade; (v.) ME; OE sceadwian to protect, cover, overshadow, deriv. of the n.; cf. OS skadowan, skadoian, Goth -skadwjan]Examples of 'shadow' in a sentence
shadow
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In other languages
shadow
British English: shadow
/ˈʃædəʊ/ NOUN
A shadow is a dark shape on a surface that is made when something stands between a light and the surface.
An oak tree cast its shadow over a tiny round pool.
- American English: shadow /ˈʃædoʊ/
- Arabic: ظِلّ
- Brazilian Portuguese: sombra
- Chinese: 影子
- Croatian: sjena
- Czech: stín tvar
- Danish: skygge
- Dutch: schaduw
- European Spanish: sombra proyección
- Finnish: varjo
- French: ombre
- German: Schatten
- Greek: ίσκιος
- Italian: ombra
- Japanese: 影
- Korean: 그림자
- Norwegian: skygge
- Polish: cień
- European Portuguese: sombra
- Romanian: umbră
- Russian: тень
- Latin American Spanish: sombra
- Swedish: skugga
- Thai: เงา
- Turkish: gölge birinin ya da bir şeyin
- Ukrainian: тінь
- Vietnamese: cái bóng
British English: shadow
VERB /ˈʃædəʊ/
If something shadows a thing or place, it covers it with a shadow.
The hood shadowed her face.
- American English: shadow /ˈʃædoʊ/
- Brazilian Portuguese: sombrear
- Chinese: 遮住
- European Spanish: ensombrecer
- French: cacher
- German: beschatten
- Italian: fare ombra a
- Japanese: 影で覆う
- Korean: 그림자를 드리우다
- European Portuguese: sombrear
- Latin American Spanish: ensombrecer
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shadow
Source
Definition of shadow from the Collins English Dictionary
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