noun
- a ball or party at which masks and fancy costumes or disguises are worn
- a costume for such a ball or party
- a disguise, false show, or pretense
- a living or acting under false pretenses
Origin:
altered (by assoc. with masque) < Fr mascarade < It mascarata, dial. var. of mascherata (< maschera): see mask
intransitive verb masqueraded, masquerading
- to take part in a masquerade
- to live or act under false pretenses