parasol
Parasol (noun) means a lightweight umbrella carried for shade rather than rain. Example: “She twirled her parasol as she strolled through the garden.”
How to use parasol
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn umbrella meant to block sunshine rather than rain.
A parasol is for sun; an umbrella is for rain — though the two look similar and are sometimes used interchangeably.
Word forms
parasoled past tense, parasolled past tense, parasols plural, parasols singular
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
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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.