shad‧ow 1 S3 W2 / ʃædəʊ $ -doʊ / 名词

1 dark shape [可数名词] the dark shape that someone or something makes on a surface when they are between that surface and the light :

the long dark shadow of an old oak tree

in the shadow of something

It was hot, and we decided to walk in the shadow of the wall (= along the wall, where its shadow would fall ) .

2 darkness [不可数名词] ( also shadows [复数形式] ) darkness caused by something preventing light from reaching a place

in shadow

The room was half in shadow.

in the shadows

In the shadows, something moved.

3 bad effect/influence [单数形式] the bad effect or influence that something has, which makes other things seem less enjoyable, attractive, or impressive

in/under the shadow of something

For years, people had been living under the shadow of communism.

cast a shadow over/on something (= make something seem less enjoyable, attractive, or impressive )

The events of September 11th cast a shadow over the celebrations.

4 without/beyond a shadow of a doubt used to say that something is definitely true :

Without a shadow of a doubt, he’s the most talented player we have.

5 in sb’s shadow if you are in someone’s shadow, they are much more famous and successful than you are :

Kate grew up in the shadow of her film star sister.

6 be a shadow of your former self to be weaker, less powerful, or worse than you were before :

Lennox seemed like a shadow of his former self.

7 shadows under your eyes small dark areas under your eyes that you have when you are very tired :

She looked pale, with deep shadows under her eyes.

8 sb’s shadow someone who follows someone else everywhere they go

9 afraid/frightened/scared etc of your own shadow easily frightened or very nervous

→ five o’clock shadow

COLLOCATIONS

动词

cast/throw a shadow (= make it appear ) The building cast a shadow across the narrow street.

a shadow falls somewhere (= appears on something ) The footsteps came closer, and a shadow fell across the table.

the shadows lengthen (= get longer, as it gets later in the day ) Already the shadows were lengthening.

形容词

a dark/black shadow She saw the dark shadow of a man in the doorway.

a long shadow Long shadows stretched across the grass from the apple trees.

flickering shadows (= shadows that move about quickly ) Candles cast strange flickering shadows on the walls.