noun

1. a ball or party at which masks and fancy costumes or disguises are worn
2. a costume for such a ball or party
3. 1. a disguise, false show, or pretense
   2. a living or acting under false pretenses

Etymology: altered (by assoc. with masque) < Fr mascarade < It mascarata, dial. var. of mascherata (< maschera): see mask

intransitive verb masqueraded -·ad′ed, masquerading -·ad′·ing

1. to take part in a masquerade
2. to live or act under false pretenses