shadow

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A dark image projected onto a surface where light (or other radiation) is blocked by the shade of an object.
2. (countable, uncountable) Relative darkness, especially as caused by the interruption of light; gloom; obscurity.
3. (countable, uncountable) An area protected by an obstacle (likened to an object blocking out sunlight).
4. (countable, obsolete, poetic, uncountable) A reflected image, as in a mirror or in water.
5. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) That which looms as though a shadow.
6. (countable, uncountable) A small degree; a shade.
7. (countable, uncountable) An imperfect and faint representation.
8. (UK, countable, uncountable) A trainee, assigned to work with an experienced officer.
9. (countable, uncountable) One who secretly or furtively follows another.
10. (countable, uncountable) An inseparable companion.
11. (countable, uncountable) A drop shadow effect applied to lettering in word processors etc.
12. (countable, uncountable) An influence, especially a pervasive or a negative one.
13. (countable, uncountable) A spirit; a ghost; a shade.
14. (Latinism, countable, obsolete, uncountable) An uninvited guest accompanying one who was invited.
15. (countable, uncountable) An unconscious aspect of the personality.

Adj

1. Unofficial, informal, unauthorized, but acting as though it were.
2. Having power or influence, but not widely known or recognized.
3. (Commonwealth) Part of, or related to, the opposition in government.
4. (US) Acting in a leadership role before being formally recognized.

Verb

1. (transitive) To shade, cloud, or darken.
2. (transitive) To block light or radio transmission from.
3. 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. (intransitive, transitive) To accompany (a professional) during the working day, so as to learn about an occupation one intends to take up.
7. (transitive) To make (an identifier, usually a variable) inaccessible by declaring another of the same name within the scope of the first.
8. (transitive) To apply the shadowing process to (the contents of ROM).

Synonyms

shade

reflection

follow

picture

trace

overshadow

spirit

image

soul

umbra

gloom

ghost

👻

phantom

tail

darkness

apparition

track

trail

shelter

silhouette

shade off

phantasma

phantasm

fantasm

follow closely

tincture

shadower

vestige

keep under surveillance

hover around

dwarf

cloudy weather

photo

hanker after

penumbra

spoor

atom

dark

cover

likeness

darken

cloudiness

seclusion

cloud

☁️

screen

glimpse

chase

fill in

canopy

birthmark

Translations

ombre

Schatten

sombra

ombra

sombra

schaduw

ombra

σκιά

umbra

gölge

beschatten

σκιάζω

ظل

ombra

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈʃædoʊ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: schadowe

Inherited from Old English: sċeaduwe

Cognate with Scots: scaddow

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: Skaad

Cognate with Dutch: schaduw

Cognate with German: Schatten

Cognate with Norwegian: skodde

Cognate with Irish: scáth

Cognate with Ancient Greek: σκότος

In summary

From Middle English schadowe, schadewe, schadwe (also schade > shade), from Old English sċeaduwe, sċeadwe, oblique form of sċeadu (“shadow, shade; darkness; protection”), from Proto-West Germanic *skadu, from Proto-Germanic *skadwaz (“shade, shadow”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱeh₃- (“darkness”).
Cognates
Cognate with Scots scaddow, schaddow (“shadow”), Saterland Frisian Skaad (“shade, shadow”), Dutch schaduw (“shadow”), German Schatten (“shadow, shade”), Norwegian skodde (“fog, mist”), Irish scáth (“shadow”), Ancient Greek σκότος (skótos, “darkness, gloom”) (whence English scoto-).