Definition of shadow in English

WordNet

Noun Plural: shadows
shadow - shade within clear boundaries
		shadowiness, shadiness, shade of questionable honesty or legality; "they acted with such obvious shadiness that they were instantly recognizable"; "the shadiness of their transactions"
		umbra a region of complete shadow resulting from total obstruction of light
shadow - an inseparable companion; "the poor child was his mother's shadow"
		follower a person who accepts the leadership of another
shadow - a dominating and pervasive presence; "he received little recognition working in the shadow of his father"
		presence the act of being present
shadow - refuge from danger or observation; "he felt secure in his father's shadow"
shadow - a premonition of something adverse; "a shadow over his happiness"
shadow - something existing in perception only; "a ghostly apparition at midnight"
		apparition, phantom, phantasm, phantasma, fantasm
		semblance, illusion an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading; "he hoped his claims would have a semblance of authenticity"; "he tried to give his falsehood the gloss of moral sanction"; "the situation soon took on a different color"
		flying saucer, ufo, unidentified flying object an (apparently) flying object whose nature is unknown; especially those considered to have extraterrestrial origins
		flying dutchman a phantom ship that is said to appear in storms near the Cape of Good Hope
shadow - a spy employed to follow someone and report their movements
		tail, shadower
		follower a person who accepts the leadership of another
		spy (military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors
shadow - an unilluminated area; "he moved off into the darkness"
		darkness, dark
		scene graphic art consisting of the graphic or photographic representation of a visual percept; "he painted scenes from everyday life"; "figure 2 shows photographic and schematic views of the equipment"
shadow - an indication that something has been present; "there wasn't a trace of evidence for the claim"; "a tincture of condescension"
		trace, vestige, tincture
		indicant, indication something (as a course of action) that is indicated as expedient or necessary; "there were indications that it was time to leave"
Verb shadows, shadowing, shadowed
shadow - follow, usually without the person's knowledge; "The police are shadowing her"
		follow behave in accordance or in agreement with; "Follow a pattern"; "Follow my example"
shadow - cast a shadow over
		shade, shade off
		darken make dark or darker; "darken a room"
shadow - make appear small by comparison; "This year's debt dwarfs that of last year"
		overshadow, dwarf
		overtop, command, dominate, overlook make someone do something

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Wiktionary

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

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

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

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

shadow
Darkness, where light (particularly sunlight) is blocked.
shadow
A particularly dark element that produces negative feelings like fear, discomfort or suspicion.
shadow
Something existing in perception only.

Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕

shadow
shad′ō, n. shade caused by an object: darkness: shelter: security: favour: the dark part of a picture: an inseparable companion: a mystical representation: faint appearance: a ghost, spirit: something only in appearance.—v.t to shade: to cloud or darken: to shade, as a painting: to represent faintly: to hide, conceal: (coll.) to attend like a shadow, watch continuously and carefully.—ns. Shad′ow-fig′ure, a silhouette; Shad′owiness, the state of being shadowy or unsubstantial; Shad′owing, shading: gradation of light and colour.—adj. Shad′owless.—n. Shad′ow-stitch, in lace-making, a very delicate kind of ladder-stitch used in fine open-work.—adj. Shad′owy, full of shadow: dark: obscure: typical: unsubstantial: (rare) indulging in fancies.—Shadow of death, approach of death: terrible disaster. [A.S. sceadu; cog. with Old High Ger. scato, and perh. Gr. skotos, darkness, skia, shadow.]

Proverbs DictionaryProverbs Dictionary 📗

shadow
Catch not at the shadow and lose the substance.

Wikipedia

When a beam of light shines onto something, that thing will cast a dark image of itself onto the ground or another surface. This image is usually called shadow. A place where the sun does not reach when it is shining can also be called "shade".

To make a shadow, there must be a light source, and an object to shine the light at. As light travels in straight lines, it cannot reach the shadow area without bending around the object. This makes the shadow. A shadow is not completely black though, as some light reflects off other objects to reach the shadow area.