# parade

Pronunciation: say "puh-RAYD" /pəˈɹeɪd/

## Noun

1. A public procession, especially one held to celebrate a holiday or special event, or, in dated use, one staged as a protest.
   - Simple: A line of people, bands, or vehicles moving through public streets to mark a holiday or special event.
   - _Thousands lined the route to see the victory parade pass by._
   - _The annual harvest parade wound through the village square._
2. An orderly or showy display, especially a succession of varied people or a series of things presented one after another.
   - Simple: A steady stream of people or things shown off one after another.
   - _The trial brought a parade of witnesses to the stand._
   - _His memoir offers a parade of eccentric relatives and old friends._
5. An assembly of troops drawn up for inspection, to receive orders, or as a show of force at set times.
   - Simple: A gathering of soldiers who line up to be checked or to show their strength.
   - _The regiment assembled for parade at dawn._
   - _A surprise inspection interrupted the weekly parade._
12. The people who take part in a parade or similar public display, considered together as a single body.
   - Simple: All the people taking part in a parade, thought of as one group.
   - _Exhausted after three miles in the heat, the parade gratefully accepted cups of water from onlookers._
   - _The parade cheered as one when the band struck up the final march._

## Verb

3. To display or reveal something prominently or ostentatiously, often as if showing it off in a procession.
   - Simple: To show something off in a bold way so that everyone notices it.
   - _Politicians often parade their humble beginnings during campaigns._
   - _She refused to parade her grief for the cameras._
4. To march in an impressive or showy manner.
   - Simple: To walk or march in a proud, showy way.
   - _The champions paraded down Main Street, waving to the crowd._
   - _Models parade along the runway with exaggerated confidence._
6. To march past in a formal procession, typically before onlookers or reviewing officials.
   - Simple: To march past in a group while other people watch.
   - _The regiment paraded the boulevard before dispersing at the barracks._
   - _Each year, veterans parade past the memorial to honor the fallen._
7. To walk up and down in public, especially to show oneself off and be seen by others.
   - Simple: To walk back and forth in public so that others will notice you.
   - _Guests paraded along the terrace, eager to be noticed._
   - _Every evening the young crowd parade through the plaza._
8. To march through or along a route, especially in an organized group.
   - Simple: To march through or along a place, often as a group.
   - _Demonstrators paraded the main boulevard for hours._
   - _The dancers parade through the old quarter at dusk._
9. To assemble in formation for inspection, roll call, or to receive orders.
   - Simple: To line up as a group so an officer can inspect everyone.
   - _The battalion parades every morning before the day's duties begin._
   - _Cadets parade at first light so their officers can inspect them._
10. To assemble soldiers in formation for inspection, roll call, or to receive orders.
   - Simple: To bring soldiers together in lines so they can be checked or given orders.
   - _The captain paraded the entire company for a surprise inspection._
   - _Commanders parade their troops at dawn to issue the day's orders._
11. To move slowly through or among a group or area.
   - Simple: To move slowly through or among people or things.
   - _The float paraded the crowded streets at walking pace._
   - _Doubts parade through his thoughts whenever he tries to decide._

## Noun

13. An open area set aside for military assemblies and for practicing close-order drills. *(rare)*
   - Simple: A flat open area where soldiers line up and practice marching and drills.
   - _The whole company assembled on the parade for review._
   - _Frost covered the parade as the soldiers filed out._
14. The assembled body of soldiers drawn up together for inspection, drill, or ceremonial display. *(rare)*
   - Simple: A group of soldiers gathered together to be inspected or to march.
   - _The parade snapped to attention as the colonel began his inspection._
   - _After an hour standing in the heat, the parade was finally dismissed._
15. A public street, square, or walkway where people stroll, in former times also used as a ground for military drill. *(dated)*
   - Simple: A street or open space where people go to walk, once also used by marching soldiers.
   - _They strolled the length of the parade every evening before dinner._
   - _A brass band used to play on the parade where troops once drilled._
16. A row of shops built together along a street, usually serving a local neighborhood. *(rare, UK)*
   - Simple: A row of shops next to a street, usually built as one block.
   - _A new coffee shop has just opened on the parade near the bus stop._
   - _Most of the units on the parade were let to local traders._
17. A street, appearing as the final element of certain proper street names in the way Road or Avenue does. *(rare)*
   - Simple: A street, used as part of some street names in the way Road or Avenue is.
   - _The hotel stands on Marine Parade, overlooking the bay._
   - _Deliveries to Grand Parade must be made before noon._
18. A group of geese on the move, especially a line of goslings shepherded by one or more adults. *(rare)*
   - Simple: A group of geese moving along, especially baby geese following the grown-ups in a line.
   - _A parade of geese crossed the meadow, the goslings strung out behind two watchful adults._
   - _Down by the river, the morning parade of geese filed steadily toward the water._
19. A group of elephants traveling together on the move. *(rare)*
   - Simple: A group of elephants moving along together.
   - _A parade of elephants crossed the dusty track in front of the jeep._
   - _At dawn a parade of elephants made its way down to drink at the river._
20. Ellipsis of programme parade. Archaic British broadcasting term. *(archaic, UK)* — Ellipsis of programme parade: a description of the programming schedule formerly announced on the radio and various television channels.
   - Simple: Short form of programme parade. An old British term for a list of upcoming radio or TV shows.
22. A defensive action that deflects an opponent's blade, or figuratively a deft turning-aside of a verbal attack. *(rare)* (pronounced: say "puh-RAHD" US /pəˈrɑd/, UK /pəˈrɑːd/)
   - Simple: A move that turns aside a blow or a tricky question.
   - _A swift parade deflected the lunge before it reached his chest._
   - _He met the awkward question with a smooth parade and changed the subject._

## Verb

21. To equip a place, such as a town or seafront, with a public promenade or open ground laid out for walking and display. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To build a public walk or marching ground in a town or square.

## Other meanings

- (verb) To walk along in a row led by one parent, with the other often following at the rear.
- (noun) The assembled crowd of people strolling together along a fashionable public walk.

## Origin

**Meanings 1–21** — From French parade ("an ostentatious or military display"), from parer ("to beautify, prepare, take pride in") plus -ade, probably influenced by earlier Italian parata ("preparation, a military parade") and Latin magnō parātū ("with great preparation"). It is a doublet of pare.
**Meaning 22** — From French parade ("a parry"), from parer ("to parry, to defend oneself") plus -ade, from Italian parata. It is a doublet of parry.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/parade (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).