parade

 
Pronunciation: /pəˈreɪd/

noun

  • 1a public procession, especially one celebrating a special day or event: a St George’s Day parade the festival began with a parade of the competitors
  • a formal march or gathering of troops for inspection or display: a military parade [mass noun]: the men massed for parade
  • a series of people or things appearing or being displayed one after the other: the parade of Hollywood celebrities who troop on to his show
  • a boastful or ostentatious display: a pompous parade of erudition
  • 2British a public square or promenade: [in place names]: we were walking along South Parade
  • a row of shops: a shopping parade
  • 3a parade ground.

verb

  • 1 [no object] (of troops) assemble for a formal inspection or ceremonial occasion: the recruits were due to parade that day
  • walk or march through a public place in a formal procession or in an ostentatious way: officers will parade through the town centre [with object]: carefree young men were parading the streets
  • 2 [with object] display (someone or something) while marching or moving around a place: they paraded national flags
  • display (something) in order to impress or attract attention: he paraded his knowledge
  • [no object] (parade as) appear falsely as; masquerade as: these untruths parading as history

Phrases

on parade

taking part in a parade: the men of the company stood on parade
on public display: politicians are always on parade

Derivatives

parader

noun

Origin:

mid 17th century: from French, literally 'a showing', from Spanish parada and Italian parata, based on Latin parare 'prepare, furnish'