shame - Definition from Longman English Dictionary Online

Language:	Old English
Origin:	scamu

shame
1 noun

shame1 S2 See pronunciation table in "How to use dictionary" pages

it's a shame/what a shame etc

spoken used when you wish a situation was different, and you feel sad or disappointed:

'She's failed her test again.' 'What a shame!'

It's a shame that you have to leave so soon.

What a shame we missed the wedding.

it is a shame to do something

It's a shame to cover this beautiful table with a tablecloth.

I can't imagine why they canceled your show, Tracy. That's such a shame.

a crying/great/terrible shame

It was a crying shame that they lost the game.

2 [uncountable] the feeling you have when you feel guilty and embarrassed because you, or someone who is close to you, have done something wrong:

He felt a deep sense of shame.

Maria blushed with shame.

To her shame (=it made her feel ashamed), she gained back all the weight she'd lost.

He's brought shame on the whole family.

hang/bow your head in shame (=look down, or feel like you should look down, because you feel so ashamed)

I bow my head in shame when I think of how I treated her.

There's no shame in (=it should not make you feel ashamed) saying 'I don't know'.

3 [uncountable] the ability to feel shame:

How could you do such a thing? Have you no shame?

spoken used to say that someone should feel guilty or embarrassed because of something they have done:

Shame on you, Fred. I thought you were my friend!

to be so much better than someone or something else that it makes the other thing seem very bad or ordinary:

His cooking puts mine to shame.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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shame¹ noun