charade
[ shuh-reyd; especially British shuh-rahd ]
/ ʃəˈreɪd; especially British ʃəˈrɑd /
noun
charades, (used with a singular verb)
a game in which the players are typically divided into two teams, members of which take turns at acting out in pantomime a word, phrase, title, etc., which the members of their own team must guess.
a word or phrase acted out in this game.
a blatant pretense or deception, especially something so full of pretense as to be a travesty.
Origin of charade
1770–80; < French < Provençal
charrad(o) entertainment, equivalent to
charr(á) to chat, chatter (from imitative root) +
-ado
-ade1
Words nearby charade
characteristic x-ray,
characterization,
characterize,
charactery,
charactonym,
charade,
charades,
charanga,
charango,
charas,
charcas
Example sentences from the Web for charades
British Dictionary definitions for charades (1 of 2)
charades
/ (ʃəˈrɑːdz) /
noun
(functioning as singular)
a parlour game in which one team acts out each syllable of a word, the other team having to guess the word
Word Origin for charades
C18: from French
charade entertainment, from Provençal
charrado chat, from
charra chatter, of imitative origin
British Dictionary definitions for charades (2 of 2)
charade
/ (ʃəˈrɑːd) /
noun
an episode or act in the game of charades
mainly British
an absurd act; travesty