darkness and becoming dark

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shade

shade [noun] (SLIGHT DARKNESS)

slight darkness caused by something blocking the direct light from the sun

US /ʃeɪd/ 
UK /ʃeɪd/ 
Example: 

The sun was hot, and there were no trees to offer us shade.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

noun

1 (no plural) a place where it is dark and cool because the sun doesn't shine there:
We sat in the shade of a big tree.

2 (plural shades) a thing that keeps strong light from your eyes:
I bought a new shade for the lamp.

3 (plural shades) how light or dark a colour is:
I'm looking for a shirt in a darker shade of green.

4 shades (plural) (informal) = sunglasses

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

shade

I. shade1 /ʃeɪd/ BrE AmE noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: sceadu]
1. OUT OF SUNLIGHT [uncountable] slight darkness or shelter from the direct light of the sun made by something blocking it:
a plant that needs a lot of shade
in the shade (of something)
She was sitting in the shade of a large oak tree.
The temperature was over 90 degrees in the shade.
2. FOR BLOCKING LIGHT [countable]
a) something you use to reduce or block light:
The shade on the lamp was slightly crooked. ⇨ ↑lampshade
b) American English a covering that can be pulled down over a window SYN blind
3. shades [plural] informal ↑sunglasses
4. IN A PICTURE [uncountable] the dark places in a picture:
strong contrasts of light and shade
5. COLOUR [countable] a particular type of red, green, blue etc
shade of
a bright shade of pink
6. shade of meaning/opinion/feeling etc a meaning etc that is slightly different from other ones SYN nuance:
There is room in the Democratic Party for many shades of opinion.
7. a shade formal very slightly
a shade too big/hot/fast etc
Matt’s clothes were just a shade too big for me.
a shade better/quicker/faster etc
The results were a shade better than we expected.
a shade over/under/above etc
She was a shade under five feet tall.
8. shades of somebody/something used to say that someone or something reminds you of another person or thing:
The food was horrible – shades of school dinners.
9. put somebody/something in the shade to be so good or impressive that other similar things or people seem much less important or interesting:
They’re planning a festival that will put all the others in the shade.
10. have it made in the shade American English informal to be extremely rich – used humorously
• • •
THESAURUS
colour red, blue, yellow etc: Blue is my favourite colour. | Matisse was famous for his use of colour.
shade a particular type of a colour: The dress is a light shade of pink. | He uses different shades of green.
hue /hjuː/ literary or technical a particular colour or shade of a colour: Her face had lost its golden hue.
tint a small amount of a colour in something that is mostly another colour: He wears sunglasses that have a pinky-orange tint.
tone one of the many different shades of a colour, each slightly darker, lighter, brighter etc than the next: Carpets in neutral tones give a feeling of space.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

shade

 

shade [shade shades shaded shading] noun, verb   [ʃeɪd]    [ʃeɪd] 

noun

OUT OF SUN
1. uncountable ~ (of sth) an area that is dark and cool under or behind sth, for example a tree or building, because the sun's light does not get to it
We sat down in the shade of the wall.
The temperature can reach 40°C in the shade.
The trees provide shade for the animals in the summer.
• These plants grow well in sun or shade.

see also  shady  

 

ON LAMP, ETC.

2. countable a thing that you use to prevent light from coming through or to make it less bright
I bought a new shade for the lamp.
• an eyeshade

see also  lampshade, sunshade  

 

ON WINDOW

 

3. countable (also ˈwindow shade) (both NAmE) =  blind  

OF COLOUR
4. countable ~ (of sth) a particular form of a colour, that is, how dark or light it is
a delicate/pale/rich/soft shade of blue

• Cool pastel shades are just right for summer.  

 

IN PICTURE

5. uncountable the dark areas in a picture, especially the use of these to produce variety

• The painting needs more light and shade.  

 

OF OPINION/FEELING

6. countable, usually plural ~ of sth a different kind or level of opinion, feeling, etc
• politicians of all shades of opinion

• The word has many shades of meaning.  

 

SLIGHTLY

7. a shade singular a little; slightly
Syn:  touch
• He was feeling a shade disappointed.

• Her skirt was a shade too short.  

 

FOR EYES

 

8. shades plural (informal) =  sunglasses  

GHOST
9. countable (literary) the spirit of a dead person; a ghost   
Word Origin:
Old English sc(e)adu, of Germanic origin. Compare with shadow.  
Thesaurus:
shade noun C
a delicate shade of blue
tinttinge|BrE colour|AmE color|literary technical hue
a shade/tinge of blue/green, etc.
a warm/rich shade/tint/colour/hue
a bright/dark/pastel/subtle shade/colour/hue
have a shade/tint/tinge/colour/hue 
Synonyms:
colour
shade hue tint tinge
These words all describe the appearance of things, resulting from the way in which they reflect light.
colour/colorthe appearance that things have, resulting from the way in which they reflect light. Red, green and blue are colours: What's your favourite colour? bright/dark/light colours
shadea particular form of a colour, especially when describing how light or dark it is. Sky blue is a shade of blue.
hue(literary or technical) a colour or a particular shade of a colour: His face took on an unhealthy, whitish hue.
tinta shade or small amount of a particular colour; a faint colour covering a surface: leaves with red and gold autumn tints
tingea small amount of a colour: There was a pink tinge to the sky.
tint or tinge?
You can say: a reddish tint/tinge or: a tinge of red but not: a tint of red. Tint is often used in the plural, but tinge is almost always singular.
a warm/rich colour/shade/hue/tint
a bright/vivid/vibrant/dark/deep colour/shade/hue
a pale/pastel/soft/subtle/delicate colour/shade/hue
a light/strong/neutral/natural colour/shade 
Which Word?:
shade / shadow
Shade [U] is an area or a part of a place that is protected from the heat of the sun and so is darker and cooler: Let’s sit in the shade for a while.
A shadow [C] is the dark shape made when a light shines on a person or an object: As the sun went down we cast long shadows on the lawn.
Shadow [U] is an area of darkness in which it is difficult to distinguish things easily: Her face was in deep shadow.  
Example Bank:
He threw out his old suits, all in various shades of brown.
His face turned an even deeper shade of red.
His room was dark, the shades pulled to block out the sun.
I searched for a patch of shade to rest in.
I was sitting in the shade.
Let's move into the shade.
The huge trees offered shade from the sun.
The ocean glistened in shades of blue and emerald.
The rooms were decorated in delicate pastel shades.
They were sitting under the shade of an umbrella.
This wool is available in 18 stunning shades.
Towels in warm shades can soften the room.
a plant that grows well in shade
a room painted in startling shades of pink and orange
a word with various shades of meaning
giving shade for cattle
in the leafy shade of a fig tree
our new range of shades for lips and eyes
reformers of all political shades
the need to ensure adequate shade for coffee plants
various shades of green
Her eyes were a delicate shade of green.
The painting needs more light and shade.
The sun peered through the shades in the hotel room.
The temperature can reach 40°C in the shade.
Use different shades of the same colour, rather than lots of different colours.
We sat down in the shade of the tree.
Idioms: put somebody in the shade  shades of somebody

Derived: shade into something 

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

shade / ʃeɪd / noun (SLIGHT DARKNESS)

B1 [ U ] slight darkness caused by something blocking the direct light from the sun:

The sun was hot, and there were no trees to offer us shade.

The children played in/under the shade of a large beach umbrella.

→  See also sunshade

 

C2 [ C ] a covering that is put over an electric light in order to make it less bright:

The lamps all had matching purple shades.

[ U ] ( also shading ) specialized the parts of a picture or painting that the artist has made slightly darker than the other parts:

A good artist can produce a very realistic effect using only light and shade.

shades [ plural ] informal dark glasses:

She was wearing a black leather jacket and shades.

 

[ C ] US for roller blind

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

shade

[ʃe͟ɪd]
 
 shades, shading, shaded
 1) N-COUNT: oft N of n, in N A shade of a particular colour is one of its different forms. For example, emerald green and olive green are shades of green.
  In the mornings the sky appeared a heavy shade of mottled gray...
  The walls were painted in two shades of green.
  ...new eyeshadows in a choice of 80 shades.
 2) N-UNCOUNT: oft in the N Shade is an area of darkness under or next to an object such as a tree, where sunlight does not reach.
  Temperatures in the shade can reach forty-eight degrees celsius at this time of year...
  Alexis walked up the coast, and resumed his reading in the shade of an overhanging cliff.
  ...exotic trees provide welcome shade.
 3) VERB If you say that a place or person is shaded by objects such as trees, you mean that the place or person cannot be reached, harmed, or bothered by strong sunlight because those objects are in the way.
  [be V-ed] ...a health resort whose beaches are shaded by palm trees...
  [be V-ed from n] Most plants prefer to be lightly shaded from direct, hot sunlight...
  [V n] Umbrellas shade outdoor cafes along winding cobblestone streets.
  Derived words:
  shaded ADJ-GRADED oft adv ADJ These plants will grow happily in a sunny or partially shaded spot.
 4) VERB If you shade your eyes, you put your hand or an object partly in front of your face in order to prevent a bright light from shining into your eyes.
  [V n] You can't look directly into it; you've got to shade your eyes or close them altogether...
  [V n from n] I had to stop at the traffic lights and put down the sun visor to shade my eyes from the light.
  Syn:
  shield
 5) N-UNCOUNT Shade is darkness or shadows as they are shown in a picture.
  ...Rembrandt's skilful use of light and shade to create the atmosphere of movement.
  Ant:
  light
 6) N-COUNT: usu pl, N of n The shades of something abstract are its many, slightly different forms.
  ...the capacity to convey subtle shades of meaning.
  ...literally dozens of newspapers of every shade of opinion.
 7) VERB If something shades into something else, there is no clear division between the two things, so that you cannot tell where or when the first thing ends and the second thing begins.
  [V into n] As the dusk shaded into night, we drove slowly through narrow alleys...
  [V to n] The tail feathers are dark blue at their bases, shading to pale blue at their tips.
 8) N-PLURAL Shades are sunglasses. [INFORMAL]
 9) N-COUNT A shade is the same as a lampshade.
 10) N-COUNT A shade is a piece of stiff cloth or heavy paper that you can pull down over a window as a covering. [AM]
  Nancy left the shades down and the lights off.
  Syn:
  blind(in BRIT, use blind)
 11) N-COUNT: usu N of n The shade of a dead person is their spirit, which is thought to be still alive in some way and in contact with the real world. [LITERARY]
  His writing benefits from the shade of Lincoln hovering over his shoulder.
 12) → See also shaded, shading
 13) PHRASE: PHR adj/adv/prep If you say that something is, for example, a shade unusual or a shade disappointing, you mean that it is slightly unusual or disappointing.
  The first two goals were a shade fortunate...
  He found her charming, but perhaps just a shade too ingenuous for him...
  The South is now only a shade behind the rest of the affluent United States.
  Syn:
  a little
 14) PHRASE (approval) If you say that there is light and shade in something such as a performance, you mean you like it because different parts of it are different in tone or mood. [WRITTEN]
  ...a faltering, artless voice that is pleasant enough, if rather lacking in light and shade.
 15) PHRASE: V inflects To put someone or something in the shade means to be so impressive that the person or thing seems unimportant by comparison.
  ...a run that put every other hurdler's performance in the shade.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1shade /ˈʃeɪd/ noun, pl shades
1 [noncount] : an area of slight darkness that is produced when something blocks the light of the sun
• The buildings cast shade on the plaza.
• The tree provided plenty of shade.
• These plants grow well in shade.
• It was a hot sunny day, but luckily their seats for the game were in the shade.
• We sat in the shade of a willow tree.
2 [count]
a : something that is used to block strong light
• He used his hand as a shade as he looked out into the bright sunlight.
• an eye shade
b : lampshade
• a lamp with a broken shade
c US : window shade
• She pulled down the shades.
3 shades [plural] informal : sunglasses
• She was wearing a cool pair of shades.
4 [noncount] : a darkened area in a drawing, painting, etc.
• a painting with contrasting areas of light and shade
5 [count] : a particular type of a color that is lighter, darker, etc., than other types - usually + of
• different shades of brown
• lipstick in several shades of red
• a bright shade of blue
6 [count] : a particular form of something that is usually slightly different from other forms
• The word has many shades of meaning.
7 [count] : a very small amount
• He saw shades [=traces] of himself in his son.
• He is just a shade [=a bit, a little] taller than his brother.
• The shirt is a shade too large for me.
draw the shades on
- see 1draw
have it made in the shade US informal : to have a very easy life or to be in a very good situation
• She had to work hard for many years to achieve success, but now she has it made in the shade.
put (someone or something) in the shade chiefly Brit informal : to be much better than (someone or something)
• Their performance really put ours in the shade.
shades of
- used to say what or who you are reminded of when you look at or think about someone or something
• a former actor who's now a politician—shades of Ronald Reagan
- shade·less adj
• Their yard is bare and shadeless.

dim

dim [adjective] (NOT CLEAR)

Not giving or having much light

US /dɪm/ 
UK /dɪm/ 

کم نور

Example: 

This light is too dim to read by. 

این نور برای مطالعه بسیار کم است . 

Oxford Essential Dictionary

dim

 adjective (dimmer, dimmest)
not bright or clear:
The light was so dim that we couldn't see anything.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

dim

I. dim1 /dɪm/ BrE AmE adjective (comparative dimmer, superlative dimmest)
[Language: Old English]
1. DARK fairly dark or not giving much light, so that you cannot see well OPP bright:
in the dim light of the early dawn
a dim glow
2. SHAPE a dim shape is one which is not easy to see because it is too far away, or there is not enough light:
The dim outline of a building loomed up out of the mist.
3. take a dim view of something to disapprove of something:
Miss Watson took a dim view of Paul’s behaviour.
4. dim recollection/awareness etc a memory or understanding of something that is not clear in your mind SYN vague:
Laura had a dim recollection of someone telling her this before.
5. EYES literary dim eyes are weak and cannot see well:
Isaac was old and his eyes were dim.
6. FUTURE CHANCES if your chances of success in the future are dim, they are not good:
Prospects for an early settlement of the dispute are dim.
7. in the dim and distant past a very long time ago – used humorously
8. NOT INTELLIGENT informal not intelligent:
You can be really dim sometimes!
—dimly adverb:
a dimly lit room
She was only dimly aware of the risk.
—dimness noun [uncountable]
• • •
THESAURUS
dark if a place is dark, there is little or no light: The room was very dark. | No, you can’t play outside, it’s too dark. | It was a dark night with clouds covering the moon.
dimly-lit a dimly-lit building or place is fairly dark because the lights there are not very bright: a dimly-lit restaurant | The church was dimly lit.
dim a dim light is fairly dark: The camera can take good pictures even in dim lighting. | The evening sky grew dim.
darkened a darkened room or building is darker than usual, especially because its lights have been turned off or the curtains have been drawn: The prisoner lay in a darkened room. | The play starts with a darkened stage, and the sound of a woman singing softly.
gloomy a gloomy place or room is not at all bright or cheerful: The bar was gloomy and smelled of stale cigar smoke.
murky dark and difficult to see through – used especially about water: the murky waters of the lake | I could hardly see him in the murky light of the bar.
pitch-dark/pitch-black completely dark, so that nothing can be seen: It was pitch-dark inside the shed.
shady a shady place is cooler and darker than the area around it, because the light of the sun cannot reach it: It was nice and shady under the trees. | They found a shady spot for a picnic.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

dim

dim [dim dims dimmed dimming dimmer dimmest] adjective, verb   [dɪm]    [dɪm]

adjective (dim·mer, dim·mest

LIGHT
1. not bright
• the dim glow of the fire in the grate

• This light is too dim to read by.  

PLACE

2. where you cannot see well because there is not much light

• a dim room/street  

SHAPE

3. that you cannot see well because there is not much light
• the dim outline of a house in the moonlight

• I could see a dim shape in the doorway.  

EYES

4. not able to see well

• His eyesight is getting dim.  

MEMORIES

5. that you cannot remember or imagine clearly
Syn:  vague
dim memories
• She had a dim recollection of the visit.

(humorous) in the dim and distant past  

PERSON

6. (informal, especially BrE) not intelligent

• He's very dim.  

SITUATION

7. not giving any reason to have hope; not good
Her future career prospects look dim.  
Word Origin:
Old English dim, dimm, of Germanic origin; related to German dialect timmer.  
Thesaurus:
dim adj.
1.
The light was too dim to read by.
faintweaksoft|literary thin
Opp: bright
dim/faint/weak/soft/thin light
a dim/faint/soft glow
a dim/faint outline
Dim, faint or weak? Dim describes light in a room or place when it is not bright enough to see clearly; faint describes a particular point of light which is hard to see; weak usually describes sunlight that is not bright.
2.
They stepped into the dim and cluttered shop.
gloomydrearydingy
Opp: bright
a dim/gloomy/dreary/dingy room
a dim/gloomy corridor/interior/street
a dim/gloomy/dreary place/day  
Example Bank:
He seems incredibly dim sometimes!
He was good-natured but rather dim.
The living room looked dim and shadowy.
A dim lamp swung in the entrance.
A voice came from the dim interior.
It was hard to see in the dim glow of the streetlights.
Owls' eyesight is good in dim light.
She was a pleasant but rather dim young woman.
The light is too dim to read by.
The room was dim because the curtains were half drawn.
The room was very dim with a murky greenish light.
They stepped into the dim and cluttered little shop.
Idiom: take a dim view of somebody

Derived Word: dimness 

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

dim / dɪm / adjective ( dimmer , dimmest ) (NOT CLEAR)

C2 not giving or having much light:

The lamp gave out a dim light.

He sat in a dim corner of the waiting room.

We could see a dim (= not easily seen) shape in the fog.

literary If your eyes are dim, you cannot see very well. a dim memory, recollection, etc. C2 something that you remember slightly, but not very well:

I had a dim recollection of having met her before.

 

dimly / ˈdɪm.li / adverb

The room was dimly lit.

I dimly remembered seeing the film before.

 

dimness / ˈdɪm.nəs / noun [ U ]
 

dim / dɪm / adjective ( dimmer , dimmest ) informal (NOT CLEVER)

not very clever:

He's a nice guy, but a little dim.

Don't be dim!

 

dimly / ˈdɪm.li / adverb

The room was dimly lit.

I dimly remembered seeing the film before.

 

dimness / ˈdɪm.nəs / noun [ U ]
 

dim / dɪm / adjective ( dimmer , dimmest ) (NOT POSITIVE)

not likely to succeed:

The company's prospects for the future are rather dim.

 

dimly / ˈdɪm.li / adverb

The room was dimly lit.

I dimly remembered seeing the film before.

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

dim

/dɪm/
(dimmer, dimmest, dims, dimming, dimmed)

1.
Dim light is not bright.
She stood waiting, in the dim light...
ADJ
dim‧ly
He followed her into a dimly lit kitchen.
ADV: ADV after v, ADV -ed
dim‧ness
...the dimness of an early September evening.
N-UNCOUNT

2.
A dim place is rather dark because there is not much light in it.
The room was dim and cool and quiet.
ADJ
dim‧ness
I squinted to adjust my eyes to the dimness.
N-UNCOUNT

3.
A dim figure or object is not very easy to see, either because it is in shadow or darkness, or because it is far away.
Pete’s torch picked out the dim figures of Bob and Chang.
= faint
ADJ
dim‧ly
The shoreline could be dimly seen.
ADV: usu ADV with v

4.
If you have a dim memory or understanding of something, it is difficult to remember or is unclear in your mind.
It seems that the ’60s era of social activism is all but a dim memory.
= hazy
ADJ: usu ADJ n
dim‧ly
Christina dimly recalled the procedure...
ADV: ADV with v, ADV adj

5.
If the future of something is dim, you have no reason to feel hopeful or positive about it.
The prospects for a peaceful solution are dim.
bright
ADJ

6.
If you describe someone as dim, you think that they are stupid. (INFORMAL)
ADJ

7.
If you dim a light or if it dims, it becomes less bright.
Dim the lighting–it is unpleasant to lie with a bright light shining in your eyes...
The houselights dimmed.
VERB: V n, V

8.
If your future, hopes, or emotions dim or if something dims them, they become less good or less strong.
Their economic prospects have dimmed...
Forty eight years of marriage have not dimmed the passion between Bill and Helen.
VERB: V, V n

9.
If your memories dim or if something dims them, they become less clear in your mind.
Their memory of what happened has dimmed...
The intervening years had dimmed his memory.
VERB: V, V n

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1dim /ˈdɪm/ adj dim·mer; dim·mest
1 : not bright or clear
• I found her sitting in a dim [=dark] corner of the restaurant.
• a dim [=obscure, faint] light
dim stars : not seen clearly
• Just the dim outline of the building could be seen through the fog.
2 : not understood or remembered in a clear way
• We had only a dim [=faint, vague] notion of what was going on.
• I have a dim memory of your last visit.
- see also the dim and distant past at distant
3 : not likely to be good or successful
• Prospects for a quick settlement of the strike appear dim. [=unlikely]
• (US) The industry faces a dim [=grim] future.
4 : not good or favorable - used in the phrase dim view
• The author's dim view [=bad opinion] of politicians is apparent throughout the book.
• She takes a dim view of human nature. [=she believes that people are naturally bad]
• Many fans take a dim view of [=many fans are unhappy about] recent changes in the team.
5 informal : not intelligent : stupid or dim-witted
• She found him pretty dim at times.
- dim·ly adv
• The lights were shining dimly.
• a dimly lit room
• I dimly remember him.
- dim·ness noun [noncount]
• the gray dimness of dawn

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