shade

An area where something blocks sunlight, keeping it darker and usually cooler.

• Let us sit in the shade.
• The tree gave us some shade.
• These plants grow well in partial shade.

How to use it: in the shade of something (We ate in the shade of a large tree.)

Common phrases: in the shade, provide shade, shade of something

A particular form of a color, which may be lighter or darker than others.

• I like this shade of blue.
• She painted the walls a warmer shade.
• The leaves turn several shades of red in autumn.

How to use it: a shade of something (The curtains are a soft shade of green.)

Similar words: hue, tone

Common phrases: shade of blue, darker shade, pale shade

A small difference in an idea, meaning, opinion, or feeling.

• These words have different shades of meaning.
• The debate revealed many shades of opinion.
• The translator carefully preserved every shade of meaning.

How to use it: a shade of something (The discussion revealed a new shade of opinion.)

Similar words: nuance, variation

Common phrases: shade of meaning, shade of opinion, a subtle shade

A stamp whose color differs enough from the original printing to be listed separately by collectors.

• This blue stamp is a rare shade.
• The catalogue lists three shades of that issue.
• Collectors compared the shade with the original printing.

Similar words: color variant

Common phrases: a rare shade, stamp shade, catalogued shade

You make part of a drawing darker, often to show shadow or depth.

• Shade the circle with your pencil.
• She shaded one side of the face.
• Have you shaded in the background yet?

How to use it: shade something in (He shaded the square in with a soft pencil.)

Similar words: darken

Opposites: lighten

Common phrases: shade in something, shade a drawing, shade with pencil

You protect someone or something from light, especially sunlight.

• She shaded her eyes with her hand.
• The trees shade our garden in summer.
• A wide hat will shade your face from the sun.

How to use it: shade someone/something from something (The roof shades the terrace from the sun.)

Similar words: shelter, shield

Common phrases: shade your eyes, shade someone, shade from sunlight

A color or quality slowly changes into another, with no clear dividing point.

• The blue shades into green at the edges.
• The sky shaded towards purple as evening approached.
• His confidence slowly shaded into arrogance.

How to use it: shade into something (The pink shades into white near the center.); shade towards something (The grass shades towards yellow in dry areas.)

Similar words: merge, blend

Common phrases: shade into something, shade towards something

You change something a little, such as its direction, position, or amount.

• Shade your next shot slightly to the left.
• The dealer shaded the price to attract a buyer.
• She shaded her estimate downward after checking the figures.

Similar words: adjust, modify

Common phrases: shade something left, shade the price, shade your shot