shadow

UK /ˈʃædəʊ/ US /ˈʃædoʊ/

noun 5verb 5adj 4name 1

Definitions

noun

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.

Relative darkness, especially as caused by the interruption of light; gloom; obscurity.

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.

An 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.

A reflected image, as in a mirror or in water.

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 […]

That which looms as though a shadow.

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.

adj

Unofficial, informal, unauthorized, but acting as though it were.

The human resources department has a shadow information technology group without headquarters knowledge.

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.

Part of, or related to, the opposition in government.

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.

verb

To shade, cloud, or darken.

The artist chose to shadow this corner of the painting.

To block light or radio transmission from.

Looks like that cloud's going to shadow us.

To secretly or discreetly track or follow another, to keep under surveillance.

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.

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.

Collocations

(noun.)

ADJ

dark, dense, deep, strong

The old oak tree cast a deep shadow across the garden on sunny afternoons.

giant, long

grotesque, monstrous, sinister, strange, terrible

dancing, flickering

VERB + SHADOW

cast, make, produce, throw

The tall buildings threw long shadows across the street during the afternoon.

fill sth with ~s

The old barn was filled with dark shadows as the sun set behind the hills.

emerge from, loom up out of, step out from/of ~s

A stranger stepped out of the shadows and asked for directions to the station.

move into, shrink into, slip (back) into ~s

After the scandal, the former politician slipped back into the shadows of private life.

lurk in, wait in, watch from

The cat waited in the shadows before pouncing on the toy mouse.

SHADOW + VERB

fall, lie

As the sun set, long shadows fell across the garden wall.

get longer, lengthen

In late afternoon, the shadows got longer across the playground as children played.

dance, leap, move, pass

The shadows of the trees danced across the garden wall as the wind blew through the branches.

PREP

among the ~s

The child felt safe hiding among the shadows of the old oak tree in the garden.

in the ~s

The children played hide-and-seek, darting between the trees in the shadows.

into the ~s

The frightened cat crept into the shadows when the dog started barking loudly.

in ~

The old photograph showed a woman standing in shadow beneath the tall trees.

into ~

The tall building cast the playground into shadow during the afternoon.

from/out of the ~s

The child emerged from the shadows when she heard her mother calling her name.

through the ~s

The children ran quickly through the shadows cast by the tall trees in the park.

PHRASES

live in the shadow of sb/sth

His younger brother struggled to succeed because he lived in the shadow of their famous father.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — something existing in perception only

apparition
phantom
phantasm
phantasma
fantasm

noun — an indication that something has been present

noun — an unilluminated area

noun — a spy employed to follow someone and report their movements

tail
shadower

verb — make appear small by comparison

verb — cast a shadow over

shade

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

beyond a shadow of a doubt

Without any doubt or hesitation at all.

I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that my sister would want to go to the concert.

valley of the shadow of death

The world, a place where darkness and death are figurative valleys one must walk through as part of the human experience.

Yea though I walke through the valley of the shadowe of death, I will feare no euill: for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staffe, they comfort me.

take the shadow for the substance

To be easily deceived, credulous, superficial.

afraid of one's own shadow

Exceptionally timid.

cast a shadow

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see cast, shadow.

Example Bank

My shadow lengthened as the sun began to set.

Wiktionary

The X-ray showed a shadow on his lung.

Wiktionary

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 whiski

Wiktionary

The human resources department has a shadow information technology group without headquarters knowledge.

Wiktionary

The director has been giving shadow leadership to the other group's project to ensure its success.

Wiktionary

The illuminati shadow group has been pulling strings from behind the scenes.

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, shadow is marked as obsolete, figuratively, poetic, US. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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