masquerade
[ mas-kuh-reyd ]
/ ˌmæs kəˈreɪd /
noun
a party, dance, or other festive gathering of persons wearing masks and other disguises, and often elegant, historical, or fantastic costumes.
a costume or disguise worn at such a gathering.
false outward show; façade; pretense: a hypocrite's masquerade of virtue.
activity, existence, etc., under false pretenses: a rich man's masquerade as a beggar.
verb (used without object), mas·quer·ad·ed, mas·quer·ad·ing.
Origin of masquerade
OTHER WORDS FROM masquerade
mas·quer·ad·er, nounWords nearby masquerade
maspero,
masqat,
masque,
masque biliaire,
masquer,
masquerade,
mass,
mass affluent,
mass book,
mass card,
mass defect
Example sentences from the Web for masquerading
British Dictionary definitions for masquerading
masquerade
/ (ˌmæskəˈreɪd) /
noun
a party or other gathering to which the guests wear masks and costumes
the disguise worn at such a function
a pretence or disguise
verb (intr)
to participate in a masquerade; disguise oneself
to dissemble
Derived forms of masquerade
masquerader, nounWord Origin for masquerade
C16: from Spanish
mascarada, from
mascara
mask