shadow

Noun

Noun

×

A word that identifies a person, place, thing, or idea.

Plural

shadows

Adjective

Adjective

×

A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun.

Comparative

more shadow

Superlative

most shadow

Noun

Noun

×

A word that identifies a person, place, thing, or idea.

1. 1.A dark image projected onto a surface where light (or other radiation) is blocked by the shade of an object.

   • The X-ray showed a shadow on his lung.
   • My shadow lengthened as the sun began to set.

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

   • Night's sable shadows from the ocean rise.
   • 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.

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. 4.That which looms as though a shadow.

   • I lived in her shadow my whole life.
   • Don't look back. Nothing left to see, just leave those shadows to the past.
   • 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.

Adjective

Adjective

×

A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun.

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

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

2. 2.Having power or influence, but not widely known or recognized.

   • The illuminati shadow group has been pulling strings from behind the scenes.
   • The director has been giving shadow leadership to the other group's project to ensure its success.

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

4. 4.Acting in a leadership role before being formally recognized.

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

Overall

Common· #1986

By learning goal

Everyday conversation

Rare

General reading & writing

Common

Academic

Rare

Literature

Common

Synonyms

• darkness