shadow box
1
5.9
- noun
- /ˈʃædoʊ bɑks/
:
caja de sombra
- I created a beautiful shadow box to display my grandmother's antique jewelry.
Examples
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After winning a medal, she proudly placed it in a shadow box along with her certificate.
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What goes into making a shadow box that big?
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We love shadow boxes, too.
Blog text (21) -
Love the shadow boxes; this one is a nice reminder of all the hard work you put into the book.
Blog text (21) -
I just recently finished a shadow box of all my dad's patches and pins from when he served in the Air Force.
Blog text (21) -
I think I might get a big shadow box and fill it with all my fabric swatches and samples I've collected.
Blog text (21) -
She didn't want a letterman's (letterperson's?) jacket, so we put her varsity letter in a shadow box.
Blog text (21) -
The shadow box on the shelf showcases my collection of rare coins and keepsakes.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A usually rectangular container with a lid for holding things or the amount it holds
How Protective
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a display case for small items' is not directly derivable from 'shadow' (a dark area) + 'box' (a container); knowing the parts would more likely suggest a box that makes or contains shadows rather than a showcase. The compound is a conventional name for a specific kind of display case and lacks a transparent compositional relation, so learners who know the words but not the idiom would likely not infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
Shadow box is a shallow box made to hold small objects so they sit away from the back and make a small shadow, which gives a sense of depth like a tiny picture. That's why the term means 'a container to protect and display small items'.