parade

puh-RAYD/pəˈɹeɪd/

24 meanings of parade

1
nouncountable or uncountable
A line of people, bands, or vehicles moving through public streets to mark a holiday or special event.
Like a moving show that travels down the street while people watch from the sidewalk.
The whole town came out to watch the parade.
Every July they hold a parade with floats and marching bands.
Similarprocession, march, cavalcade, pageant
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2
nounfigurativelycountable or uncountable
A steady stream of people or things shown off one after another.
Like watching one thing after another go past, with no end in sight.
The interview turned into a parade of complaints about the food.
Her social media feed is just a parade of vacation photos.
Similarshow
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3
verbfigurativelytransitive
To show something off in a bold way so that everyone notices it.
Like holding something up high so everyone can see it.
He likes to parade his wealth in front of his old classmates.
They parade their trophies on a shelf by the front door.
Similarflaunt, display, exhibit, showcase, trumpet
Oppositehide, conceal, downplay
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4
verbintransitive
To walk or march in a proud, showy way.
Like walking tall so that everyone turns to look at you.
The winners paraded around the field after the match.
Soldiers parade through the capital on national holidays.
Similarmarch, strut, swagger, prance, sashay
5
nouncountable or uncountable
A gathering of soldiers who line up to be checked or to show their strength.
Like a class lining up so the teacher can check that everyone is there.
The troops stood at attention during the morning parade.
Every recruit must attend parade before breakfast.
Similarmuster, inspection, review, assembly
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6
verbtransitive or intransitive
To march past in a group while other people watch.
Like walking in a line down the street so everyone can watch you go by.
The team paraded the main street after winning the championship.
Soldiers parade past the crowd on national holidays.
Similarmarch, file, process
7
verbfigurativelyintransitive
To walk back and forth in public so that others will notice you.
Like strolling around a room hoping people will notice your outfit.
Teenagers parade up and down the boardwalk on summer evenings.
She paraded around the party in her new dress.
Similarpromenade
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8
verbtransitive or intransitive
To march through or along a place, often as a group.
Like a group walking together down a street from one end to the other.
The protesters parade the streets every Friday.
The brass band paraded along the seafront.
Similarmarch, process
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9
verbintransitive
To line up as a group so an officer can inspect everyone.
Like students lining up in the schoolyard so the teacher can take attendance.
The recruits parade at dawn for a full inspection.
Each squad parades to receive the day's orders.
Similarmuster, assemble
Oppositedisperse
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10
verbtransitive
To bring soldiers together in lines so they can be checked or given orders.
Like a teacher having all the students line up so she can check them.
The sergeant parades his squad every morning for inspection.
Officers parade the new recruits before sunrise.
Similarmuster, assemble, marshal
Oppositedismiss, disperse
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11
verbfigurativelytransitive or intransitive
To move slowly through or among people or things.
Like a slow line of cars edging through a crowded street.
The boats parade the harbor at a crawl during the festival.
Clouds paraded slowly across the evening sky.
Similarpass, file, wind, crawl
12
nouncountable
All the people taking part in a parade, thought of as one group.
The parade waved and threw candy to the kids on the sidewalk.
When it started to rain, the whole parade ran under the trees.
Similarprocession
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13
nounrarecountable or uncountable
A flat open area where soldiers line up and practice marching and drills.
Like a big open schoolyard, but for soldiers to line up and march.
The recruits lined up on the parade at dawn.
When Barracks are occupied by Troops, the Yards and Parades are to be swept, rolled, and kept clean by them.
1844, The Queen's Regulations & Orders for the ArmyHere, Parades means open grounds where soldiers gather and practice drills.
Similarsquare
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14
nounrarecountable or uncountable
A group of soldiers gathered together to be inspected or to march.
Like a class lined up in rows for the teacher to check.
The whole parade stood still while the officer walked past.
The Commanding Officer is then to direct the Parade to Order Arms.
1844, The Queen's Regulations & Orders for the ArmyHere, Parade means the group of soldiers lined up together for inspection.
Similarformation, ranks
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15
noundatedcountable or uncountable
A street or open space where people go to walk, once also used by marching soldiers.
Like a boardwalk where everyone goes for a stroll.
We met by the parade and walked down to the pier.
This Square is calcled the Parade.
1697, William Dampier, A New Voyage round the WorldHere, Parade means a public square where people walk.
Similarpromenade
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16
nounrarefigurativelyUKcountable or uncountable
A row of shops next to a street, usually built as one block.
Like a little group of shops all sitting in one row.
We get our bread from the little parade round the corner.
Most new shopping centres... have broken away from the old strip parades which usually face each other across heavy inter-town traffic.
1968, Roger Kenneth Cox, Retail Site AssessmentHere, parades means rows of shops built together along a street.
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17
nounrarecountable or uncountable
A street, used as part of some street names in the way Road or Avenue is.
Like how some streets end in 'Avenue' or 'Lane.'
Her house is on Marine Parade, right by the sea.
We turned onto Station Parade to find the school.
Similarroad
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18
nounrarecountable or uncountable
A group of geese moving along, especially baby geese following the grown-ups in a line.
Like baby ducks following their mom in a line, but with geese.
A parade of geese waddled across the road on the way to the pond.
The goslings formed a little parade behind their mother.
Similargaggle
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19
nounrarecountable or uncountable
A group of elephants moving along together.
Like a family of elephants walking one after another.
A parade of elephants moved slowly across the open plain.
The safari guide pointed to a parade of elephants near the waterhole.
Similarherd
20
nounarchaicfigurativelyUKcountable or uncountableabbreviationellipsis
Short form of programme parade. An old British term for a list of upcoming radio or TV shows.
Listen to your regional Programme Parade at 8.10 a.m. daily.
1948, BBC West, Broadcasting in West
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21
verbobsoletetransitive
To build a public walk or marching ground in a town or square.
The modern part that faces the sea is... paraded, well lighted, well drained.
1889, James John Hissey, A Tour in a Phaeton through the Eastern CountiesHere, paraded means given a public walkway for strolling along the sea.
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22
Saypuh-RAHDUS/pəˈrɑd/UK/pəˈrɑːd/
nounrarecountable
A move that turns aside a blow or a tricky question.
Like blocking a ball with your hand so it doesn't hit you.
His quick parade knocked the blade away from his chest.
Her clever parade turned the reporter's question aside.
Similarparry, deflection
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23
verb
To walk in a line, with one parent leading and the other coming behind.
24
noun
The crowd of people walking together for pleasure along a public path.

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–21

From French parade, meaning a showy or military display, from parer, meaning to prepare or beautify.

Meaning 22

From French parade, meaning a parry, from parer, meaning to parry or defend oneself.