shade en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- shād
- /ʃeɪd/
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱeh₃- Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱh₃tús Proto-Germanic *skaduz Proto-West Germanic *skadu Old English sċeadu Middle English schade English shade Inherited from Middle English schade, from Old English sċeadu, from Proto-West Germanic *skadu, from Proto-Germanic *skaduz, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱh₃tús, from *(s)ḱeh₃-. Doublet of shadow. Cognate with Ancient Greek σκότος (skótos) (whence English scoto-) and σκιά (skiá) (whence English scia-, and uncertainly via σκίουρος (skíouros) English squirrel).
Meanings
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(uncountable) Darkness where light, particularly sunlight, is blocked.
Temps rose to a sweltering 40 degrees Celsius in the shade.
The old oak tree gave shade in the heat of the day.
Now we plunged into a deep shade with the boughs lacing each other overhead, and crossed dainty, rustic bridges over the cold trout-streams, the boards giving back the clatter of our horses' feet:[…].
1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter VIII, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
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(countable) Something that blocks light, particularly in a window.
Also, people with darker skin tend to have lower blood levels of vitamin D because the pigment (melanin) acts like a shade, reducing production of vitamin D (and also reducing damaging effects of sunlight on skin, including skin cancer).
2023 March 14, “Vitamin D”, in Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health:Close the shade, please: it's too bright in here.
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(countable) A variety of a color, in particular one obtained by adding black (compare tint).
Thus light and colours, as white, red, yellow, blue, with their several degrees or shades, and mixtures, as green, scarlet, purple, sea-green, and the rest, come in only by the eyes[…]
1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC:I've painted my room in five lovely shades of pink and chartreuse.
Speaking of round sunglasses, these lightweight polarized ones and come in two shades of tortoiseshell as well as black and bronze.
2023 June 26, Lauren Caruso and Jillian Tracy, “The 22 best sunglasses for summer, according to style experts”, in CNN:
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(countable, figuratively, uncountable) A subtle variation in a concept.
These performances, which include plenty of great one-liners and physical gags but also unearth subtler shades of frustration and self-doubt, are some of my favorites of hers.
2026 January 30, Judy Berman, “Catherine O’Hara Portrayed the Vain and Delusional With a Radical Lack of Vanity”, in TIME, archived from the original on 01 Feb 2026:new shades and combinations of thought
1823, Thomas De Quincey, Letters to a Young Man whose Education has been Neglected. No. V. On the English Notices of Kant:Every shade of religious and political opinion had its own headquarters.
1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter III, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC:shades of meaning
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(countable, figuratively, in-plural, uncountable) An aspect that is reminiscent of something.
shades of Groucho Marx
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(countable, uncountable) A very small degree of a quantity, or variety of meaning
That is a shade too close.
Five feet in diameter and a shade above knee high, the center of the fragile white canvass structure is filled with […]
1990 April 7, Wickie Stamps, “The 'Temple' Is Familiar”, in Gay Community News, page 12:Mrs. Rhodes who (so I gathered from Mr. Petherick's careful language) was perhaps just a shade of a hypochondriac, had retired to bed immediately after dinner.
1934, Agatha Christie, Miss Marple Tells a Story:
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(countable, literary, uncountable) A ghost or specter; a spirit.
Too long have I been haunted by that shade.
In the silence, that's when the shades come crowding around, asking for love, asking for blood, longing to keep me in Hades surrounded by shades of loss and desire, denial and self-hatred.
1986, Reginald Shepherd, “On Not Being White”, in Joseph Beam, editor, In The Life: A Black Gay Anthology, page 48:Still, Birch House (a sop to the shade of the murdered Perak Resident) had no more than its normal share of flagellation[.]
1956, Anthony Burgess, Time for a Tiger (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 39:Swift as thought the flitting shade / Thro' air his momentary journey made.
1700, [John] Dryden, “Ceyx and Alcyone”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:The adventurer was attacked by a shade.
- (countable) A postage stamp showing an obvious difference in colour/color to the original printing and needing a separate catalogue/catalog entry.
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(uncountable) Subtle insults.
Shade is: "I don't tell you you're ugly, but I don't have to tell you because you know you're ugly." And that's shade.
1990, Jennie Livingston, director, Paris Is Burning, spoken by Dorian Corey:Why did you paint your room chartreuse? No shade; I'm genuinely curious.
In a recent interview with Pitchfork, Carey offered her explanation for how the moment of shade came about.
2018 November 29, Lisa Respers France, “Mariah Carey’s legendary Jennifer Lopez shade was her ‘trying to be nice’”, in CNN:throw shade
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(countable) A cover around or above a light bulb, a lampshade.
Lighting was unimaginative for the standard stock with naked tungsten filament bulbs and metal reflectors. However, all compartments had individual reading lights above the seats with attractive glass shades.
1979 August, Graham Burtenshaw, Michael S. Welch, “O.V.S. Bulleid's SR loco-hauled coaches - 1”, in Railway World, page 398:
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(countable, historical, uncountable) A candle-shade.
I am now finishing this letter by candle-light, with the help of a handkerchief tied over the shade.
1817, T. Munro, Life, i. 511:His tent is furnished with a good large bed, mattress, pillow, &c., a few camp-stools or chairs, a folding table, a pair of shades for his candles, six or seven trunks with table equipage, his stock of linen (at least 24 shirts); some dozens of wine, brandy, and gin; tea, sugar, and biscuit; and a hamper of live poultry and his milch-goat.
1789, Munro's Narrative, 186
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| shades | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
shady · sunshade · candle-shade · shadeless · Roman shade · lampshade · starshade · wall-shade · eyeshade · smoke-shade · nightshade · cellular shade · made in the shade · hillshade · shade horsetail · shadism · shadeful · shadiness · Maple Shade · shadeset · multishade · shade ball · shade carrier · semishade · shadehouse · shade cloth · shadebob · retroshade · shaden · shadefest · shadeism · turn a number of shades of red · shade tree mechanic · shadelessly · roller shade · lightshade · seven shades · shadelike · cell shade · rainshade · pet lamp-shade · table-shade · put in the shade · shadefly · silver shade
Descendants
Relateds
Translations (228)
sv gardin (something that blocks light, particularly in a window) · es persiana (something that blocks light, particularly in a window) · mi taumarumaru (darkness where light is blocked) · oma 'óⁿaze (darkness where light is blocked) · es sombra (darkness where light is blocked) · he צֵל (darkness where light is blocked) · os аууон (darkness where light is blocked) · sv nyans (variety of color) · uga 𐎑𐎍 (darkness where light is blocked) · fi kaihdin (something that blocks light, particularly in a window) · it spettro (ghost — see also ghost) · cs odstín (subtle variation in a concept) · it gradazione (variety of color) · mi maru (darkness where light is blocked) · ce ӏиндагӏ (darkness where light is blocked) · mk нија́нса (subtle variation in a concept) · tyv хөлеге (darkness where light is blocked) · be цень (darkness where light is blocked) · fo skuggi (darkness where light is blocked) · it tonalità (variety of color) · pt sombra (darkness where light is blocked) · ur چھایا (darkness where light is blocked) · te షేడు (something that blocks light, particularly in a window) · sv persienn (something that blocks light, particularly in a window) · ca persiana (something that blocks light, particularly in a window) · kl alanngoq (darkness where light is blocked) · pt tom (variety of color) · lo ຮົ່ມ (darkness where light is blocked) · hy շուք (darkness where light is blocked) · id bayangan (darkness where light is blocked) · fr ombre (ghost — see also ghost) · de Vorhang (something that blocks light, particularly in a window) · ko 그늘 (darkness where light is blocked) · la umbra (darkness where light is blocked) · ang sceadu (darkness where light is blocked) · mfe lonbraz (darkness where light is blocked) · ru тень (darkness where light is blocked) · sc umbara (darkness where light is blocked) · sq hije (darkness where light is blocked) · fi varjostin (something that blocks light, particularly in a window) · sh sjenka (darkness where light is blocked) · pl cień (darkness where light is blocked) · bg оттенък (variety of color) · sh сјена (darkness where light is blocked) · cmn 陰影 /阴影 (darkness where light is blocked) · tl lilim (darkness where light is blocked) · sh senka (darkness where light is blocked) · my ဆာယာ (darkness where light is blocked) · gl sombra (darkness where light is blocked) · sc urma (darkness where light is blocked) · ckb سێبەر (darkness where light is blocked) · pt cortina (something that blocks light, particularly in a window) · bg нюанс (variety of color) · gl ton (variety of color) · sh tijenje (darkness where light is blocked) · ilo linong (darkness where light is blocked) · vi bóng (darkness where light is blocked) · el σκιά (darkness where light is blocked) · it tinta (variety of color) · scn ummra (darkness where light is blocked) · gd dubhar (darkness where light is blocked) · nl jaloezie (something that blocks light, particularly in a window) · fi vivahde (very small degree of a quantity, or variety of meaning) · fr ombre (darkness where light is blocked) · ca tret (variety of color) · mk сениште (ghost — see also ghost) · sh сенка (darkness where light is blocked) · pt shade (subtle insult) · kdd kaṉku (darkness where light is blocked) · grc σκιά (darkness where light is blocked) · fi haamu (ghost — see also ghost) · nv chahaʼoh (darkness where light is blocked) · nl schaduw (ghost — see also ghost) · pdt Schauten (darkness where light is blocked) · ka ჩრდილი (darkness where light is blocked) · it fantasma (ghost — see also ghost) · ca esperit (ghost — see also ghost) · pt nuança (variety of color) · de Schatten (darkness where light is blocked) · zza sersi (diq) (darkness where light is blocked) · eo nuanco (variety of color) · fur ombre (darkness where light is blocked) · knb ichong (darkness where light is blocked) · sv ton (variety of color) · az çalar (subtle variation in a concept) · ru отте́нок (variety of color) · ca ombra (ghost — see also ghost) · rm umbriva (darkness where light is blocked) · om gaaddisa (darkness where light is blocked) · lv ēna (darkness where light is blocked) · sh сјенка (darkness where light is blocked) · mk настре́шница (something that blocks light, particularly in a window) · sa छाया (darkness where light is blocked) · uk тінь (darkness where light is blocked) · pt sombra (ghost — see also ghost) · yag olana (darkness where light is blocked) · nl tint (variety of color) · qu llanthu (darkness where light is blocked) · es tono (variety of color) · ko 그림자 (darkness where light is blocked) · mk о́сој (darkness where light is blocked) · da skygge (darkness where light is blocked) · fi verho (something that blocks light, particularly in a window) · sh тијење (darkness where light is blocked) · it nuance (variety of color) · ru отте́нок (subtle variation in a concept) · lad solombra (darkness where light is blocked) · ro umbră (darkness where light is blocked) · sh sjena (darkness where light is blocked) · mr सावली (darkness where light is blocked) · ta நிழல் (darkness where light is blocked) · de Farbton (variety of color) · bg ся́нка (darkness where light is blocked) · nl schaduw (darkness where light is blocked) · mt dell (darkness where light is blocked) · mn сүүдэр (darkness where light is blocked) · av рагӏад (darkness where light is blocked) · fr store (something that blocks light, particularly in a window) · se suoivva (darkness where light is blocked) · mi tāuriuri (variety of color) · ifk hidum (darkness where light is blocked) · gd sgàile (darkness where light is blocked) · pt gradação (variety of color) · fi varjo (darkness where light is blocked) · sh тење (darkness where light is blocked) · ru нюа́нс (variety of color) · nci cēhualli (darkness where light is blocked) · bg завеса (something that blocks light, particularly in a window) · dlm sombreja (darkness where light is blocked) · ja 影 (darkness where light is blocked) · ru што́ра (something that blocks light, particularly in a window) · te రంగు (variety of color) · fi sävy (subtle variation in a concept) · it persiana (something that blocks light, particularly in a window) · he גוון (variety of color) · hi छाया (darkness where light is blocked) · fr ton (variety of color) · sk tieň (darkness where light is blocked) · ja 意味合い (subtle variation in a concept) · my အရိပ် (darkness where light is blocked) · tr gölge (darkness where light is blocked) · it sfumatura (subtle variation in a concept) · ny mthunzi (darkness where light is blocked) · cs stín (darkness where light is blocked) · eo ombro (darkness where light is blocked) · fi sävy (aspect reminiscent of something) · cy gwawr (variety of color) · acw ظِلّ (darkness where light is blocked) · rup aumbrã (darkness where light is blocked) · es rajadura (subtle insult) · oc ombra (darkness where light is blocked) · sl senca (darkness where light is blocked) · es cuereada (subtle insult) · pt espectro (ghost — see also ghost) · nv chahashʼoh (darkness where light is blocked) · sv schattering (variety of color) · nb nyanse (variety of color) · te నీడ (darkness where light is blocked) · az çalar (variety of color) · pl odcień (variety of color) · pt cúpula (cover around or above a light bulb, a lampshade) · ca matís (variety of color) · ca espectre (ghost — see also ghost) · nl schim (ghost — see also ghost) · mk ладо́вина (darkness where light is blocked) · sh сена (darkness where light is blocked) · nl geest (ghost — see also ghost) · hy ստվեր (darkness where light is blocked) · th ร่ม (darkness where light is blocked) · it sfumatura (variety of color) · fi vihjaus (subtle insult) · fr nuance (variety of color) · km ម្លប់ (darkness where light is blocked) · scn pirsiana (something that blocks light, particularly in a window) · es umbral (variety of color) · ab агага (darkness where light is blocked) · fr esprit (ghost — see also ghost) · ar مِظَلَّة (darkness where light is blocked) · la umbrāculum (darkness where light is blocked) · knb ayong (darkness where light is blocked) · scn tappareḍḍa (something that blocks light, particularly in a window) · cs odstín (variety of color) · gl matiz (subtle variation in a concept) · sv färgton (variety of color) · ca matís (subtle variation in a concept) · cmn 内涵 (subtle insult) · izh vilu (darkness where light is blocked) · ru нюа́нс (subtle variation in a concept) · bg нюанс (subtle variation in a concept) · mi whakamarumaru (darkness where light is blocked) · sh sena (darkness where light is blocked) · mk нија́нса (variety of color) · sv skugga (darkness where light is blocked) · ar ظِلّ (darkness where light is blocked) · ja ニュアンス (subtle variation in a concept) · tl tarlong (something that blocks light, particularly in a window) · tl lilim (something that blocks light, particularly in a window) · rm sumbreiva (darkness where light is blocked) · rup umbrã (darkness where light is blocked) · fi sävy (variety of color) · es matiz (variety of color) · nl spook (ghost — see also ghost) · sc umbra (darkness where light is blocked) · gd sgàile (something that blocks light, particularly in a window) · fr nuance (subtle variation in a concept) · ca to (variety of color) · pt matiz (variety of color) · hu árnyék (darkness where light is blocked) · pt tonalidade (variety of color) · rm sumbriva (darkness where light is blocked) · cjs кӧлек (darkness where light is blocked) · it ombra (ghost — see also ghost) · ar مَظَلَّة (darkness where light is blocked) · haw malu (darkness where light is blocked) · ca ombra (darkness where light is blocked) · hu árnyalat (variety of color) · tya yone (darkness where light is blocked) · ba күләгә (darkness where light is blocked) · el απόχρωση (variety of color) · gl matiz (variety of color) · yua boʼoy (darkness where light is blocked) · nn nyanse (variety of color) · sh tenje (darkness where light is blocked) · mk се́нка (darkness where light is blocked) · izh varjo (darkness where light is blocked) · it ombra (darkness where light is blocked) · nl schakering (variety of color) · it varietà (variety of color)