shadow
see also: Shadow
Pronunciation
  • (America) enPR: shăd′ō, IPA: /ˈʃædoʊ/
  • (RP) enPR: shăd′ō, IPA: /ˈʃædəʊ/
Noun

shadow

  1. A dark image projected onto a surface where light (or other radiation) is blocked by the shade of an object.
    My shadow lengthened as the sun began to set.
    The X-ray showed a shadow on his lung.
  2. Relative darkness, especially as caused by the interruption of light; gloom, obscurity.
    I immediately jumped into shadow as I saw them approach.
    • Night's sable shadows from the ocean rise.
    • In secret shadow from the sunny ray, / On a sweet bed of lilies softly laid.
  3. A area protected by an obstacle (likened to an object blocking out sunlight).
    The mountains block the passage of rain-producing weather systems and cast a "shadow" of dryness behind them.
  4. (obsolete) A reflected image, as in a mirror or in water.
    • 1596-99, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, Act II, scene 9, line 66.
      Some there be that shadows kiss; / Such have but a shadow's bliss.
  5. That which looms as though a shadow.
    • 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, New York, N.Y.: Columbia University Press, →ISBN, page vii:
      Hepaticology, outside the temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere, still lies deep in the shadow cast by that ultimate "closet taxonomist," Franz Stephani—a ghost whose shadow falls over us all.
    I don't have a shadow of doubt in my mind that my plan will succeed. The shadow of fear of my being outed always affects how I live my life. I lived in her shadow my whole life.
  6. A small degree; a shade.
    He did not give even a shadow of respect to the professor.
    • Bible, James i. 17
      no variableness, neither shadow of turning
  7. An imperfect and faint representation.
    He came back from war the shadow of a man.
    the neopagan ritual was only a pale shadow of the ones the Greeks held thousands of years ago
    • Bible, Hebrews x. 1
      the law having a shadow of good things to come
    • 1667, John Milton, “Book 10”, in Paradise Lost. A Poem Written in Ten Books, London: Printed [by Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […] [a]nd by Robert Boulter […] [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], OCLC 228722708 ↗; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: The Text Exactly Reproduced from the First Edition of 1667: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, OCLC 230729554 ↗:
      [types] and shadowes of that destined seed
  8. (UK, police) A trainee, assigned to work with an experienced officer.
  9. One who secretly or furtively follows another.
    The constable was promoted to working as a shadow for the Royals.
    • 1667, John Milton, “Book 8”, in Paradise Lost. A Poem Written in Ten Books, London: Printed [by Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […] [a]nd by Robert Boulter […] [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], OCLC 228722708 ↗; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: The Text Exactly Reproduced from the First Edition of 1667: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, OCLC 230729554 ↗:
      Sin and her shadow Death
  10. An inseparable companion.
  11. (typography) A drop shadow effect applied to lettering in word processors etc.
  12. An influence, especially a pervasive or a negative one.
  13. A spirit; a ghost; a shade.
    • c. 1606, William Shakespeare Macbeth, act 3, scene 4
      The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow!
  14. (obsolete, Latinism) An uninvited guest accompanying one who was invited.
    Synonyms: umbra
  15. (psychology) In Jungian psychology, an unconscious aspect of the personality.
Translations Translations Translations
  • Portuguese: sombra
  • Russian: (colloquial) шпик
Translations Verb

shadow (shadows, present participle shadowing; past and past participle shadowed)

  1. (transitive) To shade, cloud or darken.
    The artist chose to shadow this corner of the painting.
  2. (transitive) To block light or radio transmission from.
    Looks like that cloud's going to shadow us.
  3. (espionage) To secretly or discreetly track or follow another, to keep under surveillance.
  4. (transitive) To represent faintly and imperfectly.
  5. (transitive) To hide; to conceal.
  6. (transitive) To accompany (a professional) during the working day, so as to learn about an occupation one intends to take up.
  7. (transitive, programming) To make (an identifier, usually a variable) inaccessible by declaring another of the same name within the scope of the first.
  8. (transitive, computing) To apply the shadowing process to (the contents of ROM).
Translations Translations Adjective

shadow

  1. Unofficial, informal, unauthorized, but acting as though it were.
    The human resources department has a shadow information technology group without headquarters knowledge.
  2. Having power or influence, but not widely known or recognized.
    The director has been giving shadow leadership to the other group's project to ensure its success.
    The illuminati shadow group has been pulling strings from behind the scenes.
  3. (politics) Acting in a leadership role before being formally recognized.
    The shadow cabinet cannot agree on the terms of the agreement due immediately after they are sworn in.
    The insurgents’ shadow government is being crippled by the federal military strikes.
  4. (AU, politics) Part of, or related to, the opposition in government.

Shadow
Proper noun
  1. Surname



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