shades Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun spectacles that are darkened or polarized to protect the eyes from the glare of the sun
    dark glasses; sunglasses.
    • he was wearing a pair of mirrored shades
  2. noun relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
    shadowiness; shade; shadiness.
    • it is much cooler in the shade
    • there's too much shadiness to take good photographs
  3. noun a quality of a given color that differs slightly from another color
    tint; tone; tincture; shade.
    • after several trials he mixed the shade of pink that she wanted
  4. noun protective covering that protects something from direct sunlight
    shade.
    • they used umbrellas as shades
    • as the sun moved he readjusted the shade
  5. noun a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude
    nicety; refinement; subtlety; nuance; shade.
    • without understanding the finer nuances you can't enjoy the humor
    • don't argue about shades of meaning
  6. noun a position of relative inferiority
    shade.
    • an achievement that puts everything else in the shade
    • his brother's success left him in the shade
  7. noun a slight amount or degree of difference
    tad; shade.
    • a tad too expensive
    • not a tad of difference
    • the new model is a shade better than the old one
  8. noun a mental representation of some haunting experience
    ghost; spectre; shade; spook; specter; wraith.
    • he looked like he had seen a ghost
    • it aroused specters from his past
  9. noun a representation of the effect of shadows in a picture or drawing (as by shading or darker pigment)
    shade.
  10. verb cast a shadow over
    shadow; shade off; shade.
  11. verb represent the effect of shade or shadow on
    fill in; shade.
  12. verb protect from light, heat, or view
    shade.
    • Shade your eyes when you step out into the bright sunlight
  13. verb vary slightly
    shade.
    • shade the meaning
  14. verb pass from one quality such as color to another by a slight degree
    shade.
    • the butterfly wings shade to yellow

WordNet