from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Parade \Pa*rade"\, n. [F., fr. Sp. parada a halt or stopping, an
assembling for exercise, a place where troops are assembled
to exercise, fr. parar to stop, to prepare. See {Pare}, v.
t.]
1. The ground where a military display is held, or where
troops are drilled. Also called {parade ground}.
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2. (Mil.) An assembly and orderly arrangement or display of
troops, in full equipments, for inspection or evolutions
before some superior officer; a review of troops. Parades
are general, regimental, or private (troop, battery, or
company), according to the force assembled.
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3. Hence: Any imposing procession; the movement of any group
of people marshaled in military order, especially a
festive public procession, which may include a marching
band, persons in varied costume, vehicles with elaborate
displays, and other forms of entertainment, held in
commemoration or celebration of an event or in honor of a
person or persons; as, a parade of firemen; a Thanksgiving
Day parade; a Memorial Day parade; a ticker-tape parade.
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In state returned the grand parade. --Swift.
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4. Hence: A pompous show; a formal or ostentatious display or
exhibition.
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Be rich, but of your wealth make no parade. --Swift.
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5. Posture of defense; guard. [A Gallicism.]
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When they are not in parade, and upon their guard.
--Locke.
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6. A public walk; a promenade.
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{Dress parade}, {Undress parade}. See under {Dress}, and
{Undress}.
{Parade rest}, a position of rest for soldiers, in which,
however, they are required to be silent and motionless.
--Wilhelm.
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Syn: Ostentation; display; show.
Usage: {Parade}, {Ostentation}. Parade is a pompous
exhibition of things for the purpose of display;
ostentation now generally indicates a parade of
virtues or other qualities for which one expects to be
honored. "It was not in the mere parade of royalty
that the Mexican potentates exhibited their power."
--Robertson. "We are dazzled with the splendor of
titles, the ostentation of learning, and the noise of
victories." --Spectator.
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