Shadow vs. Projection — What's the Difference?

A shadow is a dark (real image) area where light from a light source is blocked by an opaque object. It occupies all of the three-dimensional volume behind an object with light in front of it.

The act of projecting or the condition of being projected.

A dark area or shape made by an object blocking rays of light.

A thing or part that extends outward beyond a prevailing line or surface

The darkness or diminished light caused by the blocking of a light source

A plan for an anticipated course of action

A darker area in a picture or photograph.

A prediction or estimate of something in the future, based on present data or trends.

Shadows The darkness following sunset.

The process of projecting an image onto a screen or other surface for viewing.

Often shadows A darkened area of skin under the eye.

An image so projected.

An incipient growth of beard that makes the skin look darker.

(Mathematics) The image of a geometric figure reproduced on a line, plane, or surface.

A feeling or cause of gloom or unhappiness

A system of intersecting lines, such as the grid of a map, on which part or all of the globe or another spherical surface is represented as a plane surface.

A nearby or adjoining region; vicinity

(Psychology) The attribution of one's own attitudes, feelings, or suppositions to others, thought in psychoanalytic theory to be an unconscious defense against anxiety or guilt.

A dominating presence or influence

Something which projects, protrudes, juts out, sticks out, or stands out.

An imitation or inferior version

The action of projecting or throwing or propelling something.

A phantom; a ghost.

(archaic) The throwing of materials into a crucible, hence the transmutation of metals.

An unsubstantial object of pursuit

(archaic) The crisis or decisive point of any process, especially a culinary process.

One, such as a detective or spy, that follows or trails another.

The display of an image by devices such as movie projector, video projector, overhead projector or slide projector.

A constant companion.

A forecast or prognosis obtained by extrapolation

(Sports) A player who guards an opponent closely.

(psychology) A belief or assumption that others have similar thoughts and experiences to one's own. This includes making accusations that would more fittingly apply to the accuser.

A faint indication; a foreshadowing

(photography) The image that a translucent object casts onto another object.

An insignificant portion or amount; a trace

(cartography) Any of several systems of intersecting lines that allow the curved surface of the earth to be represented on a flat surface. The set of mathematics used to calculate coordinate positions.

Shelter; protection

(geometry) An image of an object on a surface of fewer dimensions.

To cast a shadow on; darken or shade

(linear algebra) An idempotent linear transformation which maps vectors from a vector space onto a subspace.

To make gloomy or troubled, especially over time

(mathematics) A transformation which extracts a fragment of a mathematical object.

To represent vaguely, mysteriously, or prophetically; foreshadow.

(category theory) A morphism from a categorical product to one of its (two) components.

To darken in a painting or drawing; shade in.

(grammar) The preservation of the properties of lexical items while generating the phrase structure of a sentence. See Projection principle.

To follow, especially in secret; trail.

The act of throwing or shooting forward.

(Sports) To guard (an opponent) closely throughout the playing area.

A jutting out; also, a part jutting out, as of a building; an extension beyond something else.

To become downcast or gloomy

The act of scheming or planning; also, that which is planned; contrivance; design; plan.

Not having official status

The representation of something; delineation; plan; especially, the representation of any object on a perspective plane, or such a delineation as would result were the chief points of the object thrown forward upon the plane, each in the direction of a line drawn through it from a given point of sight, or central point; as, the projection of a sphere. The several kinds of projection differ according to the assumed point of sight and plane of projection in each.

A dark image projected onto a surface where light (or other radiation) is blocked by the shade of an object.

Any method of representing the surface of the earth upon a plane.

Relative darkness, especially as caused by the interruption of light; gloom; obscurity.

A prediction made by extrapolating from past observations

An area protected by an obstacle (likened to an object blocking out sunlight).

The projection of an image from a film onto a screen

(obsolete) A reflected image, as in a mirror or in water.

A planned undertaking

(figurative) That which looms as though a shadow.

Any structure that branches out from a central support

A small degree; a shade.

Any solid convex shape that juts out from something

An imperfect and faint representation.

(psychiatry) a defense mechanism by which your own traits and emotions are attributed to someone else

A trainee, assigned to work with an experienced officer.

The acoustic phenomenon that gives sound a penetrating quality;

One who secretly or furtively follows another.

The representation of a figure or solid on a plane as it would look from a particular direction

An inseparable companion.

The act of projecting out from something

(typography) A drop shadow effect applied to lettering in word processors etc.

The act of expelling or projecting or ejecting

An influence, especially a pervasive or a negative one.

A spirit; a ghost; a shade.

An uninvited guest accompanying one who was invited.

An unconscious aspect of the personality.

(transitive) To shade, cloud, or darken.

(transitive) To block light or radio transmission from.

To secretly or discreetly track or follow another, to keep under surveillance.

(transitive) To represent faintly and imperfectly.

(transitive) To hide; to conceal.

(transitive) To accompany (a professional) during the working day, so as to learn about an occupation one intends to take up.

To make (an identifier, usually a variable) inaccessible by declaring another of the same name within the scope of the first.

To apply the shadowing process to (the contents of ROM).

Unofficial, informal, unauthorized, but acting as though it were.

Having power or influence, but not widely known or recognized.

(politics) Acting in a leadership role before being formally recognized.

Part of, or related to, the opposition in government.

Darkness; shade; obscurity.

A shaded place; shelter; protection; security.

A reflected image, as in a mirror or in water.

That which follows or attends a person or thing like a shadow; an inseparable companion; hence, an obsequious follower.

A spirit; a ghost; a shade; a phantom.

An imperfect and faint representation; adumbration; indistinct image; dim bodying forth; hence, mystical representation; type.

A small degree; a shade.

An uninvited guest coming with one who is invited.

To cut off light from; to put in shade; to shade; to throw a shadow upon; to overspead with obscurity.

To conceal; to hide; to screen.

To protect; to shelter from danger; to shroud.

To mark with gradations of light or color; to shade.

To represent faintly or imperfectly; to adumbrate; hence, to represent typically.

To cloud; to darken; to cast a gloom over.

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.

Shade within clear boundaries

An unilluminated area;

Something existing in perception only;

A premonition of something adverse;

An indication that something has been present;

Refuge from danger or observation;

A dominating and pervasive presence;

A spy employed to follow someone and report their movements

An inseparable companion;

Follow, usually without the person's knowledge;

Cast a shadow over

Make appear small by comparison;