shadow

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. An area that is not or is only partially irradiated or illuminated because of the interception of radiation by an opaque object between the area and the source of radiation.
2. n. The rough image cast by an object blocking rays of illumination. See Synonyms at shade.
3. n. An imperfect imitation or copy.
4. n. The darkness following sunset.
5. n. A feeling or cause of gloom or unhappiness: The argument cast a shadow on their friendship.
6. n. A nearby or adjoining region; vicinity: grew up in the shadow of the ballpark.
7. n. A dominating presence or influence: spent years working in the shadow of the lab director.
8. n. A darkened area of skin under the eye. Often used in the plural.
9. n. An incipient growth of beard that makes the skin look darker.
10. n. A shaded area in a picture or photograph.
11. n. A mirrored image or reflection.
12. n. A phantom; a ghost.
13. n. One, such as a detective or spy, that follows or trails another.
14. n. A constant companion.
15. n. Sports A player who guards an opponent closely.
16. n. A faint indication; a foreshadowing.
17. n. A vestige or inferior form: shadows of their past achievements.
18. n. An insignificant portion or amount; a trace: beyond a shadow of a doubt.
19. n. Shelter; protection: under the shadow of their corporate sponsor.
20. v. To cast a shadow on; shade.
21. v. To make gloomy or dark; cloud.
22. v. To represent vaguely, mysteriously, or prophetically.
23. v. To darken in a painting or drawing; shade in.
24. v. To follow, especially in secret; trail.
25. v. Sports To guard (an opponent) closely throughout the playing area, especially in ice hockey.
26. v. To change by gradual degrees.
27. v. To become clouded over as if with shadows: Her face shadowed with sorrow.
28. adj. Not having official status: a shadow government of exiled leaders; a shadow cabinet.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. The fainter light and coolness caused by the interruption or interception of the rays of light and heat from the sun; shade.
2. n. plural Same as shade, 3.
3. n. Shade within defined limits; the dark figure or image projected by a body when it intercepts the light. In optics shadow may be defined as a portion of space from which light is shut off by an opaque body. Every opaque object on which light falls is accompanied with a shadow on the side opposite to the luminous body, and the shadow appears more intense in proportion as the illumination is stronger. An opaque object illuminated by the sun, or any other source of light which is not a single point, must have an infinite number of shadows, though these are not distinguishable from each other, and hence the shadow of such an opaque body received on a plane is always accompanied by a penumbra, or partial shadow, the complete shadow being called the umbra. See penumbra.
4. n. Anything which, follows or attends a person or thing like a shadow; an inseparable companion.
5. n. An uninvited guest introduced to a feast by one who is invited: a translation of the Latin umbra.
6. n. A reflected image, as in it mirror or in water; hence, any image or portrait.
7. n. The dark part of a picture; shade; representation of comparative deficiency or absence of light.
8. n. Type; mystical representation. Compare eidolon and paradigm.
9. n. An imperfect and faint representation; adumbration; a prefiguration; a foreshowing; a dim bodying forth.
10. n. The faintest trace; a slight or faint appearance: as, without a shadow of doubt.
11. n. Disguise; pretext; subterfuge.
12. n. Anything unsubstantial or unreal, though having the deceptive appearance of reality; an image produced by the imagination.
13. n. A phantom; a shade; a spirit; a ghost.
14. n. A shaded or shady spot or place; an obscure, secluded, or quiet retreat.
15. n. Shade; retirement; privacy; quiet; rest.
16. n. Shelter; cover; protection; security.
17. n. That which shades, shelters, or protects, as from light or heat; specifically, a sunshade, a parasol, or a wide-brimmed hat for women.
18. n. A light four-cornered sail used by yachts in fair winds. It has a special gaff, and is set on the foremast of schooners and on the mast of cutters and sloops.
19. n. In entomology, a very slight and undefined darker color on a light ground, as on the wings of Lepidoptera
20. n. Synonyms See shade.
21. To cover or overspread with shade; throw into shade; cast a shadow over; shade.
22. To darken; cloud; obscure; bedim; tarnish.
23. To mark with or represent by shading; mark with slight gradations of color or light; shade; darken slightly.
24. To represent in a shadowy or figurative way; hence, to betoken; typify; foreshow: sometimes with forth or out.
25. To shelter; screen; hide; conceal; disguise.
26. To attend closely, like a shadow; follow about closely in a secret or unobserved manner: watch secretly and continuously: as, to shadow a criminal.
27. n. In algebra, an umbral letter or symbol having no meaning apart from another sort of letter or symbol to which it assigns a property, and therefore not to be written alone.
28. n. Same as shadow corpuscle. See phantom corpuscle.

Wiktionary

1. n. A dark image projected onto a surface where light is blocked by the shade of an object.
2. n. Relative darkness, especially as caused by the interruption of light; gloom, obscurity.
3. n. That which looms as though a shadow.
4. n. Merely a hint of substance.
5. n. One who secretly or furtively follows another.
6. n. A type of lettering form of word processors that makes a cubic effect.
7. n. An influence, especially a pervasive or a negative one.
8. v. To block light or radio transmission.
9. v. espionage To secretly or discreetly track or follow another, to keep under surveillance.
10. v. programming To make an identifier, usually a variable, inaccessible by declaring another of the same name within the scope of the first.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. Shade within defined limits; obscurity or deprivation of light, apparent on a surface, and representing the form of body which intercepts the rays of light. See the Note under shade, n., 1.
2. n. Darkness; shade; obscurity.
3. n. A shaded place; shelter; protection; security.
4. n. A reflected image, as in a mirror or in water.
5. n. That which follows or attends a person or thing like a shadow; an inseparable companion; hence, an obsequious follower.
6. n. A spirit; a ghost; a shade; a phantom.
7. n. An imperfect and faint representation; adumbration; indistinct image; dim bodying forth; hence, mystical representation; type.
8. n. A small degree; a shade.
9. n. A Latinism An uninvited guest coming with one who is invited.
10. v. To cut off light from; to put in shade; to shade; to throw a shadow upon; to overspead with obscurity.
11. v. rare To conceal; to hide; to screen.
12. v. To protect; to shelter from danger; to shroud.
13. v. To mark with gradations of light or color; to shade.
14. v. To represent faintly or imperfectly; to adumbrate; hence, to represent typically.
15. v. To cloud; to darken; to cast a gloom over.
16. v. To attend as closely as a shadow; to follow and watch closely, especially in a secret or unobserved manner.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. make appear small by comparison
2. n. an inseparable companion
3. n. shade within clear boundaries
4. n. an unilluminated area
5. n. something existing in perception only
6. n. refuge from danger or observation
7. n. an indication that something has been present
8. n. a spy employed to follow someone and report their movements
9. v. cast a shadow over
10. v. follow, usually without the person's knowledge
11. n. a dominating and pervasive presence
12. n. a premonition of something adverse