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English Words Starting With S

15,552 entries — pick a word to see its definition, pronunciation, and usage.

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Noun Verb Adjective Adverb Plural noun Combining form Verb (transitive)Verb (intransitive)Verb (ambitransitive)

shade
nounverbverb-intransitive+1B1
/ʃeɪd/Slight darkness or coolness caused by something blocking direct light; a particular form or degree of a colour.
shade cloth
nounC1
/ˈʃeɪd ˌklɒθ/A woven fabric, often synthetic, designed to provide shade and filter sunlight while allowing some air circulation.
shade deck
nounLow
/ʃeɪd dɛk/A deck (platform), usually attached to a building or free-standing in a garden, that is specifically designed or positioned to provide shade from the sun.
shade tree
nounB2
/ˈʃeɪd ˌtriː/A tree planted or valued primarily for the shade it provides from sunlight.
shades
plural-nounB1
/ʃeɪdz/Plural of 'shade': slight darkness or coolness caused by something blocking direct sunlight; also refers to sunglasses.
shadfly
nounC2
/ˈʃæd.flaɪ/A common name for a mayfly (Ephemeroptera), a short-lived aquatic insect known for its brief adult life and mass emergences near bodies of water.
shading
nounC1
/ˈʃeɪdɪŋ/the representation or effect of light and shadow on a surface, or the subtle variation in colour, tone, or character.
shadkhan
nounVery Low
/ˈʃadxan/A traditional Jewish matchmaker or marriage broker, historically a formal role in matchmaking within the community.
shadoof
nounVery Low
/ʃəˈduːf/A manual irrigation tool, consisting of a long pole on a pivot with a bucket at one end and a counterweight at the other, used to lift water from a river or well.
shadow
adjectivenounverb+1B1
/ˈʃædəʊ/A dark shape or area produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
shadow ban
nounMedium-High
/ˈʃædəʊ bæn/To block or partially restrict a user's online content or visibility without their knowledge, allowing them to continue posting but limiting who can see it.
shadow bands
nounC2
/ˈʃædəʊ bændz/Moving, wavy lines of alternating light and dark seen on plain surfaces just before and after a total solar eclipse.
shadow cabinet
nounC1
/ˈʃædəʊ ˈkæbɪnɪt/A group of senior members of the main opposition party in a parliamentary system, each assigned to scrutinize and challenge a specific government minister.
shadow dance
nounC2/Advanced
/ˈʃæd.əʊ ˌdɑːns/A theatrical dance where performers move behind a screen, casting their shadows as the main visual element for the audience.
shadow docket
nounLow (specialist term)
/ˈʃædəʊ ˈdɒkɪt/A term for the set of orders and decisions made by a court, especially the US Supreme Court, on an emergency basis without full briefing or oral arguments, and often without signed opinions explaining the reasoning.
shadow history
nounC2
/ˈʃædəʊ ˈhɪst(ə)ri/A history that exists alongside or beneath the official, recorded history; often referring to undocumented, suppressed, or alternative narratives.
shadow inflation
nounlow
/ˈʃædəʊ ɪnˈfleɪʃən/A situation where consumers perceive a higher rate of inflation than official statistics indicate, often due to focusing on rapidly rising prices of frequently purchased items while overlooking stable or falling prices of other goods.
shadow mask
nounC2
/ˈʃædəʊ ˌmɑːsk/A thin metal plate with tiny holes, placed behind the screen of a cathode-ray tube (CRT) television or computer monitor to ensure colour accuracy by directing electron beams to specific coloured phosphor dots.
shadow pin
nounLow
/ˈʃædəʊ pɪn/A temporary, provisional, or placeholder pin (often in the context of digital interfaces, bowling, or machinery) that holds a position or represents a location before the final, definitive pin is placed or determined.
shadow play
nounB2
/ˈʃædəʊ pleɪ/A form of theatrical entertainment where flat puppets are manipulated between a light source and a translucent screen, creating visible shadows for the audience.

Showing 4561–4580 of 15552 words.