shade

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   protective covering that protects something from direct sunlight

   The family used umbrellas as shades.

2. 2
   noun

   a representation of the effect of shadows in a picture or drawing

   The shade in that painting looks so realistic.

3. 3
   noun

   a quality of a given color that differs slightly from another color

   After several trials they mixed the pink shade that we wanted for the paint.

4. 4
   noun

   a mental representation of some haunting experience

   The soldiers were haunted by the shade of the event.

5. 5
   noun

   a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude

   The shade of two editorials added to the main points of the argument.

6. 6
   noun

   a slight amount or degree of difference

   The flavor of the next batch was a shade sweeter.

7. 7
   noun

   a position of relative inferiority

   The achievement that puts everything else in the shade.

8. 8
   noun

   relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body

   It is much cooler in the shade of the tree.

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 Proto-Indo-European *-o- Proto-Indo-European *-nom Proto-Indo-European *-onom Proto-Germanic *-aną Proto-Germanic *-janą Old English -an Middle English -en Middle English schaden English shade Inherited from Middle English schaden, from schade + -en.