noun
parasol
PA-ruh-sol
Parasol (noun) means a lightweight umbrella carried for shade rather than rain. Example: “She twirled her parasol as she strolled through the garden.”
noun
1
A lightweight umbrella carried for shade rather than rain.
"She twirled her parasol as she strolled through the garden."
2
A large fixed umbrella used to shade an outdoor table or patio.
"They set up a parasol over the picnic table to keep off the midday sun."
How to use parasol
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn umbrella meant to block sunshine rather than rain.
Common mistake
A parasol is for sun; an umbrella is for rain — though the two look similar and are sometimes used interchangeably.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- parasols
- Third person singular
- parasols
- Past tense
- parasoled, parasolled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She twirled her _____ as she strolled through the garden.
Etymology
From French parasol, from Italian parasole — para- ("to shield against") + sole ("sun"), literally "sun-shield."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “parasol” mean?
The word “parasol” means a lightweight umbrella carried for shade rather than rain. In plain terms, an umbrella meant to block sunshine rather than rain.
How do you pronounce “parasol”?
“Parasol” is pronounced PA-ruh-sol (/ˈpɛɹəˌsɑl/ in IPA).
How do you use “parasol” in a sentence?
Here is “parasol” used in a sentence: “She twirled her parasol as she strolled through the garden.”
What is another word for “parasol”?
Words with a similar meaning to “parasol” include sunshade, sun umbrella, beach umbrella, chatta and chatra.
What part of speech is “parasol”?
“Parasol” is a noun.
Where does the word “parasol” come from?
The word “parasol” comes from French. From French parasol, from Italian parasole — para- ("to shield against") + sole ("sun"), literally "sun-shield.".
How many meanings does “parasol” have?
“Parasol” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a lightweight umbrella carried for shade rather than rain.
