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pa·rade

(pə-rād)

a. An organized public procession on a festive or ceremonial occasion.

b. The participants in such a procession.

a. A regular place of assembly for reviews of troops. Also called parade ground.

b. A formal review of marching military troops.

c. The troops taking part in such a review.

3. A line or extended group of moving persons or things: a parade of strollers on the mall.

4. An extended, usually showy succession: a parade of fads and styles.

5. An ostentatious show; an exhibition: make a parade of one's talents.

6. A public square or promenade.

v. pa·rad·ed, pa·rad·ing, pa·rades

v.intr.

1. To take part in a parade; march in a public procession: The circus performers and animals paraded down Main Street.

2. To assemble for a ceremonial military review or other exercise.

3. To stroll in public, especially so as to be seen; promenade.

4. To behave so as to attract attention; show off.

v.tr.

1. To cause to take part in a parade: paraded the floats past city hall.

2. To assemble (troops) for a ceremonial review.

3. To march or walk through or around: parade the campus.

4. To exhibit ostentatiously; flaunt: paraded their wealth. See Synonyms at show.

[Probably French, action of stopping a horse, from Old Spanish parada, from Vulgar Latin *parāta, from feminine past participle of Latin parāre, to prepare; see perə-¹ in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

pa·rader n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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