shadow

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A dark image projected onto a surface where light (or other radiation) is blocked by the…

   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.
   • The X-ray showed a shadow on his lung.
2. 2

   Relative darkness, especially as caused by the interruption of light

   Relative darkness, especially as caused by the interruption of light; gloom; obscurity.

   • I immediately jumped into shadow as I saw them approach.
   • In secret shadow from the sunny ray, / On a sweet bed of lillies softly layd.
   • Night's sable shadows from the ocean rise.
3. 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.
4. ›+ 25 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      A reflected image, as in a mirror or in water.

      • Some there be that ſhadowes kiſſe, / Such haue but a ſhadowes bliſſe.
      • […] some dead lake That holds the shadow of a lark ⁠Hung in the shadow of a heaven […]
      • I was the shadow of the waxwing slain By the false azure in the windowpane; I was the smudge of ashen fluff—and I Lived on, flew on, in the reflected sky.
   2. 5

      That which looms as though a shadow.

      • Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
      • I lived in her shadow my whole life.
      • Hepaticology, outside the temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere, still lies deep in the shadow cast by that ultimate "closet taxonomist," Franz Stephani—a ghost whose shadow falls over us all.
   3. 6

      A small degree

      A small degree; a shade.

      • He did not give even a shadow of respect to the professor.
      • I don't have a shadow of doubt in my mind that my plan will succeed.
      • no variableness, neither shadow of turning
   4. 7

      An imperfect and faint representation.

      • He came back from war the shadow of a man.
      • The neopagan ritual was only a pale shadow of the ones the Greeks held thousands of years ago.
      • the law having a shadow of good things to come
   5. 8

      A trainee, assigned to work with an experienced officer.

   6. 9

      One who secretly or furtively follows another.

      • The constable was promoted to working as a shadow for the Royals.
      • Sin and her shadow Death
   7. 10

      An inseparable companion.

   8. 11

      A drop shadow effect applied to lettering in word processors etc.

   9. 12

      An influence, especially a pervasive or a negative one.

      • Men see the institution and worship it. It is only the lengthened shadow of one man.[…]The Reformation is the shadow of Luther: Quakerism of Fox: Methodism of Wesley: Abolition of Clarkson.
   10. 13

       A spirit

       A spirit; a ghost; a shade.

       • The Baby of a Girle. Hence horrible ſhadow,
   11. 14

       An uninvited guest accompanying one who was invited.

       • I muſt not haue my boord peſter'd with ſhadowes, / That under other mens protection breake in / Without invitement.
   12. 15

       An unconscious aspect of the personality.

       • In a paper he wrote in 1939, Jung compared the shadow to Freud's concept of the unconscious.
   13. 16

       Unofficial, informal, unauthorized, but acting as though it were.

       • The human resources department has a shadow information technology group without headquarters knowledge.
   14. 17

       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.
       • The illuminati shadow group has been pulling strings from behind the scenes.
   15. 18

       Part of, or related to, the opposition in government.

   16. 19

       Acting in a leadership role before being formally recognized.

       • The shadow cabinet cannot agree on the terms of the agreement due immediately after they are sworn in.
       • The insurgents’ shadow government is being crippled by the federal military strikes.
   17. 20

       To shade, cloud, or darken.

       • The artist chose to shadow this corner of the painting.
   18. 21

       To block light or radio transmission from.

       • Looks like that cloud's going to shadow us.
   19. 22

       To secretly or discreetly track or follow another, to keep under surveillance.

   20. 23

       To represent faintly and imperfectly.

       • Ah, ye admonitions and warnings! why stay ye not when ye come? But rather are ye predictions than warnings, ye shadows!
   21. 24

       To hide

       To hide; to conceal.

   22. 25

       To accompany (a professional) during the working day, so as to learn about an occupation…

       To accompany (a professional) during the working day, so as to learn about an occupation one intends to take up.

       • In most cases, interns have mainly observed, or “shadowed,” their Hands-On hosts, but some interns have been given real tasks to perform, […]
       • I know you haven’t run a training before, but Irving will be there to shadow. Just stick to the flowchart and escalate properly depending on dialectics. You’ll be fine.
   23. 26

       To make (an identifier, usually a variable) inaccessible by declaring another of the same…

       To make (an identifier, usually a variable) inaccessible by declaring another of the same name within the scope of the first.

       • In this snippet, inside the for loop the a and b variables shadow variables from the outer scope, and while legal, this is almost certainly a programming error.
   24. 27

       To apply the shadowing process to (the contents of ROM).

   25. 28

       A surname.

The neighborhood

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