Parade

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /pəˈɹeɪd/

Definitions

1. A celebratory public display involving a procession of individuals and vehicles or floats that serves to entertain and honor specific occasions or groups
2. A public event where people or vehicles move along a route to celebrate or honor something ; to march or walk in a way designed to attract attention or admiration ; to show off or present something in a noticeable and impressive way
3. An organized march of participants celebrating an event in a festive gathering ; to walk or behave with a conspicuous or deliberate display ; to exhibit items or qualities ostentatiously for others to see

Etymology: "Parade" arrived in English through French, but its first sense was closer to a fencing move than a street procession. The French "parade" meant a parry, a deflecting of a blow, and it came from the verb "parer", to ward off or defend oneself. That fencing sense is one of two English words that share this origin, and the two are doublets of "parry" and "pare". The procession sense developed from the same French verb, which also meant to prepare, adorn or show off. Italian "parata" carried a similar range, covering preparation, a military review and an ostentatious display. French borrowed that Italian spirit, so a parade came to mean a show put on for onlookers, whether troops marching or nobles displaying their finery.

Synonyms: procession, march, display, celebration, pageant

Antonyms: disorder, chaos