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shadow - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'shadow' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Shadow [ n.]
- Shade within defined limits; obscurity or deprivation of light, apparent on a surface, and representing the form of the body which intercepts the rays of light; as, the shadow of a man, of a tree, or of a tower. See the Note under Shade, n., 1.
- Darkness; shade; obscurity.
- A shaded place; shelter; protection; security.
- A reflected image, as in a mirror or in water.
- That which follows or attends a person or thing like a shadow; an inseparable companion; hence, an obsequious follower.
- A spirit; a ghost; a shade; a phantom.
- An imperfect and faint representation; adumbration; indistinct image; dim bodying forth; hence, mystical representation; type.
- A small degree; a shade.
- An uninvited guest coming with one who is invited.
- To cut off light from; to put in shade; to shade; to throw a shadow upon; to overspead with obscurity.
- To conceal; to hide; to screen.
- To protect; to shelter from danger; to shroud.
- To mark with gradations of light or color; to shade.
- To represent faintly or imperfectly; to adumbrate; hence, to represent typically.
- To cloud; to darken; to cast a gloom over.
- To attend as closely as a shadow; to follow and watch closely, especially in a secret or unobserved manner; as, a detective shadows a criminal.

Meaning of 'shadow' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . shadow [ n]
Meaning (1):
- something existing in perception only
Example in sentence:
  • a ghostly apparition at midnight
Meaning (2):
- a premonition of something adverse
Example in sentence:
  • a shadow over his happiness
Meaning (3):
- an indication that something has been present
Example in sentence:
  • a tincture of condescension;
  • there wasn't a trace of evidence for the claim
Meaning (4):
- refuge from danger or observation
Example in sentence:
  • he felt secure in his father's shadow
Meaning (5):
- an unilluminated area
Example in sentence:
  • he moved off into the darkness
Meaning (6):
- a dominating and pervasive presence
Example in sentence:
  • he received little recognition working in the shadow of his father
Meaning (7):
- an inseparable companion
Example in sentence:
  • the poor child was his mother's shadow
8 . shadow [ v]
Meaning (8):
- follow, usually without the person's knowledge
Example in sentence:
  • The police are shadowing her
Meaning (9):
- make appear small by comparison
Example in sentence:
  • This year's debt dwarfs that of last year

Nearby Words:

shab shabbed shabbily shabbiness shabbing shabble shabby shabrack shack shackatory

See 'shadow' also in:

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Related Definitions

  • Job shadowing
    Job shadowing is a temporary, unpaid work experience opportunity where students learn about a particular job (typically in a field of interest) by walking through the work day as a shadow to an employee.

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