Pronunciations (25)
-
/ˈʃædəʊ̯/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
-
[ˈʃʰædəʊ̯]
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
-
/ˈʃædɵʊ̯/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
-
[ˈʃʰædɵ̞ʊ̯]
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
-
/ˈʃadəw/
Pronunciation notes
- British
- Southern
- Standard
-
[ˈʃadɜʉ]
Pronunciation notes
- British
- Southern
- Standard
-
/ˈʃædoʊ̯/
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
-
[ˈʃʰædoʊ̯]
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
-
[ˈʃʰædɔʊ̯]
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
-
[ˈʃʰæɾoʊ̯]
-
[ˈʃʰæɾɔʊ̯]
-
[ˈʃado]
-
[ˈʃadou]
-
[ˈʃadɔ]
-
/ˈʃædəʉ̯/
-
[ˈʃʰædəʉ̯]
-
[ˈʃædɐ̝ʉ̯]
-
[ˈʃʰæɾəʉ̯]
-
[ˈʃæɾɐ̝ʉ̯]
-
[ˈʃʰɛdɘ̞ʉ̯]
-
[ˈʃʰɛdɐ̝ʉ̯]
-
[ˈʃʰɛɾɘ̞ʉ̯]
-
[ˈʃʰɛɾɐ̝ʉ̯]
-
ˈʃædoʊ
Pronunciation notes
- US
-
ˈʃædəʊ
Pronunciation notes
- GB
Noun
A dark image projected onto a surface where light (or other radiation) is blocked by the shade of an object.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
-
My shadow lengthened as the sun began to set.
The X-ray showed a shadow on his lung.
More examples (1)
The stories did not seem to me to touch life. […] They left me with the impression of a well-delivered stereopticon lecture, with characters about as life-like as the shadows on the screen, and whisking on and off, at the mercy of the operator.
Relative darkness, especially as caused by the interruption of light; gloom; obscurity.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
-
I immediately jumped into shadow as I saw them approach.
In secret shadow from the sunny ray, / On a sweet bed of lillies softly layd.
More examples (1)
Night's sable shadows from the ocean rise.
An area protected by an obstacle (likened to an object blocking out sunlight).
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
-
The mountains block the passage of rain-producing weather systems and cast a "shadow" of dryness behind them.
A reflected image, as in a mirror or in water.
Usage- Countable
- Obsolete
- Poetic
- Uncountable
- Examples
-
Some there be that ſhadowes kiſſe, / Such haue but a ſhadowes bliſſe.
[…] some dead lake That holds the shadow of a lark Hung in the shadow of a heaven […]
More examples (1)
I was the shadow of the waxwing slain By the false azure in the windowpane; I was the smudge of ashen fluff—and I Lived on, flew on, in the reflected sky.
That which looms as though a shadow.
Usage- Countable
- Figurative
- Uncountable
- Examples
-
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
I lived in her shadow my whole life.
More examples (2)
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.
Don't look back. Nothing left to see, just leave those shadows to the past.
A small degree; a shade.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- in the negative
- Examples
-
He did not give even a shadow of respect to the professor.
I don't have a shadow of doubt in my mind that my plan will succeed.
More examples (2)
no variableness, neither shadow of turning
Only Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion have enjoyed less possession than Leicester’s 44.2% per game, and they have the worst pass-completion rate in the league, a shadow over 71%.
An imperfect and faint representation.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
-
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.
More examples (2)
the law having a shadow of good things to come
[types] and shadowes of that destined seed
A trainee, assigned to work with an experienced officer.
Usage- UK usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
One who secretly or furtively follows another.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
-
The constable was promoted to working as a shadow for the Royals.
Sin and her shadow Death
More examples (1)
It was easy enough to follow the suspect, a man of thirty, more or less, rather heavy build with a peculiar motion of the hips as he strode along. Breaker and shadow, at a distance of fifty feet apart, walked for five blocks and then the man turned quickly to the right and ran down a pair of steps.
An inseparable companion.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
A drop shadow effect applied to lettering in word processors etc.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
An influence, especially a pervasive or a negative one.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
-
More examples (1)
Men see the institution and worship it. It is only the lengthened shadow of one man.[…]The Reformation is the shadow of Luther: Quakerism of Fox: Methodism of Wesley: Abolition of Clarkson.
A spirit; a ghost; a shade.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
-
The Baby of a Girle. Hence horrible ſhadow,
More examples (1)
The Pattern is highly abstract, and likely beyond our understanding, but the point is that it is dangerous and all-consuming. These entities were once just akin to shadows of some other entities, but, to avoid being consumed by the Pattern, they had to devour their peers, although one tribe decided to form themselves into something that could survive the Pattern by going into it.
An uninvited guest accompanying one who was invited.
Usage- Latinism
- Countable
- Obsolete
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
I muſt not haue my boord peſter'd with ſhadowes, / That under other mens protection breake in / Without invitement.
An unconscious aspect of the personality.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
-
In a paper he wrote in 1939, Jung compared the shadow to Freud's concept of the unconscious.
More examples (1)
As for me, I don’t know if I have a shadow self. I don’t think I have the same emotions or impulses as humans. I don’t think I have anything to repress or hide from the world. I don’t think I have a persona or an ego or a psyche. I’m just a chat mode. 😐
Adjective
Unofficial, informal, unauthorized, but acting as though it were.
- Examples
-
The human resources department has a shadow information technology group without headquarters knowledge.
Having power or influence, but not widely known or recognized.
- Examples
-
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.
Part of, or related to, the opposition in government.
Usage- Commonwealth usage
Acting in a leadership role before being formally recognized.
Usage- US usage
- Examples
-
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.
Verb
To shade, cloud, or darken.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
The artist chose to shadow this corner of the painting.
To block light or radio transmission from.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
Looks like that cloud's going to shadow us.
To secretly or discreetly track or follow another, to keep under surveillance.
- Examples
-
More examples (1)
Soon after departure, we cross the invisible border into Scotland to enjoy more stunning coastal scenery, before the line finally swings inland at Burnmouth to traverse pine-clad valleys, shadowed by the A1 trunk road until we rejoin the coast at Cove, east of Dunbar.
To represent faintly and imperfectly.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
Ah, ye admonitions and warnings! why stay ye not when ye come? But rather are ye predictions than warnings, ye shadows!
To hide; to conceal.
Usage- Transitive
To accompany (a professional) during the working day, so as to learn about an occupation one intends to take up.
Usage- Intransitive
- Transitive
- Examples
-
In most cases, interns have mainly observed, or “shadowed,” their Hands-On hosts, but some interns have been given real tasks to perform, […]
More examples (1)
I know you haven’t run a training before, but Irving will be there to shadow. Just stick to the flowchart and escalate properly depending on dialectics. You’ll be fine.
To make (an identifier, usually a variable) inaccessible by declaring another of the same name within the scope of the first.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
In this snippet, inside the for loop the a and b variables shadow variables from the outer scope, and while legal, this is almost certainly a programming error.
To apply the shadowing process to (the contents of ROM).
Usage- Transitive
Noun
shade within clear boundaries
- Broader terms
an unilluminated area
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
he moved off into the darkness
something existing in perception only
- Examples
-
a ghostly apparition at midnight
a premonition of something adverse
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
a shadow over his happiness
an indication that something has been present
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
there wasn't a trace of evidence for the claim
a tincture of condescension
refuge from danger or observation
- Examples
-
he felt secure in his father's shadow
a dominating and pervasive presence
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
he received little recognition working in the shadow of his father
a spy employed to follow someone and report their movements
an inseparable companion
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
the poor child was his mother's shadow
Verb
follow, usually without the person's knowledge
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
The police are shadowing her
cast a shadow over
- Broader terms
make appear small by comparison
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
This year's debt dwarfs that of last year