shadow

English Online Dictionary. What means shadow‎? What does shadow mean?

English

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈʃædoʊ/, enPR: shăd′ō
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈʃædəʊ/, enPR: shăd′ō
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈʃædəʉ/, enPR: shăd′ō
• Rhymes: -ædəʊ
• Hyphenation: shad‧ow

Etymology 1

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”).

Noun

shadow (countable and uncountable, plural shadows)

1. A dark image projected onto a surface where light (or other radiation) is blocked by the shade of an object.
2. Relative darkness, especially as caused by the interruption of light; gloom; obscurity.
3. An area protected by an obstacle (likened to an object blocking out sunlight).

4. (obsolete or poetic) A reflected image, as in a mirror or in water.
5. (figurative) That which looms as though a shadow.
   • Bible, Psalm 23:1–6

     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.
6. A small degree; a shade.
7. An imperfect and faint representation.
8. (UK, law enforcement) A trainee, assigned to work with an experienced officer.
9. One who secretly or furtively follows another.
10. An inseparable companion.
11. (typography) A drop shadow effect applied to lettering in word processors etc.
12. An influence, especially a pervasive or a negative one.
13. A spirit; a ghost; a shade.
14. (obsolete, Latinism) An uninvited guest accompanying one who was invited.

    Synonym: umbra
15. (Jungian psychology) An unconscious aspect of the personality.

Usage notes

• Someone or something is said to “cast”, “have”, or “throw” a shadow if the shadow is caused by that person or object (either literally, by eclipsing a light source, or figuratively).

Derived terms

Related terms

• scoto-

Translations

Adjective

shadow (comparative more shadow, superlative most shadow)

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

2. 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.

3. (politics) 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.

4. (Australia, politics) Part of, or related to, the opposition in government.

Derived terms

Listed under noun.

Etymology 2

From Middle English schadowen, from Old English sċeadwian, from sċeadu (“shadow; shade”) + -ian (suffix forming verbs).

Verb

shadow (third-person singular simple present shadows, present participle shadowing, simple past and past participle shadowed)

1. (transitive) To shade, cloud, or darken.

2. (transitive) To block light or radio transmission from.

3. (particularly espionage) 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. (transitive) To accompany (a professional) during the working day, so as to learn about an occupation one intends to take up.
7. (transitive, programming) To make (an identifier, usually a variable) inaccessible by declaring another of the same name within the scope of the first.
8. (transitive, computing) To apply the shadowing process to (the contents of ROM).

Derived terms

• beshadow
• foreshadow
• overshadow
• unshadow

Translations