shade

About 9.60 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun Darkness where light, particularly sunlight, is blocked.

   The old oak tree gave shade in the heat of the day.

2. noun Something that blocks light, particularly in a window.

   Close the shade, please: it's too bright in here.

3. noun A variety of a color, in particular one obtained by adding black (compare tint).

   I've painted my room in five lovely shades of pink and chartreuse.

4. noun A subtle variation in a concept.

   shades of meaning

5. noun An aspect that is reminiscent of something.

   shades of Groucho Marx

6. noun A very small degree of a quantity, or variety of meaning

   That is a shade too close.

7. noun A ghost or specter; a spirit.

   Too long have I been haunted by that shade.

8. noun A postage stamp showing an obvious difference in colour/color to the original printing and needing a separate catalogue/catalog entry.

Similar words

shadowiness shadiness nuance subtlety nicety refinement spook spectre specter ghost

Often followed by

of and trees the in to is or on

Word family

in the shade no shade shaded shadeless shader shaders shades shading