1 [C] a dark shape on a surface that is caused by sth being between the light and that surface 影子;阴影:
The dog was chasing its own shadow.那只狗在追逐自己的影子。The shadows lengthened as the sun went down.太阳下山的时候,影子越拉越长。☞Look at penumbra and umbra. 参看penumbra及umbra。 ☞picture at shade 见shade插图
2 [U] an area that is dark because sth prevents direct light from reaching it 阴暗的地方:
His face was in shadow.他的脸落在阴影里。
3 [sing] a very small amount of sth 微量;少许:
I know without a shadow of doubt that he's lying.毫无疑问,我知道他在说谎。
cast a shadow (across/over sth)→CAST¹
shadow²
/ˈʃædəʊ ||; ˈʃædo/verb
[T] to follow and watch sb's actions 跟踪,监视(某人的行动):
The police shadowed the suspect for three days.警方跟踪那个疑犯已有三日了。
shadow³
/ˈʃædəʊ ||; ˈʃædo/adj
(only before a noun 只用于名词前) (in British politics) belonging to the biggest political party that is not in power, with special responsibility for a particular subject, for example education or defence. Shadow ministers would probably become government ministers if their party won the next election. (英国政治)影子内阁的(指在野党的部份成员,各自负责某方面的事务,如教育、国防等。在野党如在下次大选中获胜,这些影子大臣便可能成为内阁大臣):
the shadow Cabinet影子内阁