shade

[[t]ʃeɪd[/t]]

n. v. shad•ed, shad•ing

1) the comparative darkness caused by the screening of rays of light from an object or area

2) a place or an area of comparative darkness, as one sheltered from the sun

3) window shade

4) lampshade

5) shades

a) darkness gathering at the close of day

b) sts Informal. sunglasses

c) a reminder of something:

shades of the Inquisition[/ex]

6) comparative obscurity

7) the disembodied spirit of a dead person, esp. an ancestor.

8) fia the degree of darkness of a color, determined by the quantity of black or by the lack of illumination

9) fia a dark part of a picture or drawing

10) a slight amount or degree:

a shade of difference; coffee with a shade of cream[/ex]

11) anything used for protection against excessive light, heat, etc

12) a shadow

13) to produce shade in or on

14) to obscure, dim, or darken

15) to screen or hide from view

16) to protect by or as if by a screen

17) fia

a) to introduce degrees of darkness into (a drawing or painting) in order to render light and shadow or give the effect of color

b) to render the values of light and dark on (a drawn figure, object, etc.), esp. in order to create an illusion of three-dimensionality

18) to change by imperceptible degrees

19) to reduce (a price) by degrees

20) to change by slight graduations

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Etymology: bef. 900; (n.) ME s(c) hade, OE sceadu (see shadow); c. OSskado, OHG scato, Go skadus, Gk skótos shad′er, n. shade′less, adj.