Dictionary definition · shade
noun
- relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body"it is much cooler in the shade"
- a quality of a given color that differs slightly from another color"after several trials he mixed the shade of pink that she wanted"
- protective covering that protects something from direct sunlight"they used umbrellas as shades"
- a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude"without understanding the finer nuances you can't enjoy the humor"
- a position of relative inferiority"an achievement that puts everything else in the shade"
- a slight amount or degree of difference"a tad too expensive"
- a mental representation of some haunting experience"he looked like he had seen a ghost"
verb
- cast a shadow over
- represent the effect of shade or shadow on
- protect from light, heat, or view"Shade your eyes when you step out into the bright sunlight"
- vary slightly"shade the meaning"
- pass from one quality such as color to another by a slight degree"the butterfly wings shade to yellow"
Source: Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).