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shade
/ʃeɪd/
partial darkness or shelter from light
She sat in the shade of the tree to escape the sun.
She sat under the tree to avoid direct sunlight.
general
partial darkness caused by an object blocking light
The leaves cast a cool shade over the garden.
The leaves created a refreshing shadow in the garden.
Can also refer to a slight difference in color or tone.
art
a slight difference in color or tone
The artist used different shades of blue in the painting.
The artist used varying tones of blue in the artwork.
Commonly used in art and design to describe subtle color variations.
botany
a type of tree or plant, especially one with broad leaves
The shade tree provided a cool spot to rest.
The broad-leaved tree offered a shaded area to relax.
Less common usage, often referring to trees that provide shade.
Collocations
in the shadeprotected from sunlightshade of colora specific tone or variation of a colorshade treea tree that provides shade
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Literal vs. Figurative
Remember that 'shade' can refer to both physical darkness and subtle color differences.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
Always consider the context to determine whether 'shade' refers to light or color.
Word Origin
Old English 'scadu', from Proto-Germanic 'skadwaz', meaning 'shadow' or 'darkness'.
Usage Notes
Can be used both literally (physical shade) and figuratively (color variations).
Word Breakdown
shade
partial darkness or shelter from light
rootEnglish Dictionary