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Added 9 October 2026

shadow

/ˈʃædəʊ̯/ noun

Categories: Describing WordsPlacesEveryday Words

In Latin: umbra Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about shadow at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. 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.
  2. Relative darkness, especially as caused by the interruption of light; gloom; obscurity.
    I immediately jumped into shadow as I saw them approach.
  3. 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.

adjective

  1. Unofficial, informal, unauthorized, but acting as though it were.
    The human resources department has a shadow information technology group without headquarters knowledge.
  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.
  3. Part of, or related to, the opposition in government.

verb

  1. To shade, cloud, or darken.
    The artist chose to shadow this corner of the painting.
  2. To block light or radio transmission from.
    Looks like that cloud's going to shadow us.
  3. To secretly or discreetly track or follow another, to keep under surveillance.

Origin

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 *skaduz (“shade, shadow”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱeh₃- (“darkness”). Doublet of shade.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: traceapparitionphantomvestigeovershadowdwarfshadedarkdarknesstailsilhouette

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