What does "charade" mean?
A genre of riddles where the clues to the answer are descriptions or puns on its syllables, with a final clue to the whole.
Charade
/ʃəˈɹɑːd/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A genre of riddles where the clues to the answer are descriptions or puns on its syllables, with a final clue to the whole.
- Grammar: charade is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: absurdity, anagram, antimasque, audience success.
- Useful contrasts: authenticity, direct reveal, explicit clue.
- Usage evidence: His charade attracted negative attention.
How to use "charade"
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Meaning check
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Source and review context
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 A genre of riddles where the clues to the answer are descriptions or puns on its syllables, with a final clue to the whole. archaic
"CHARADE, a trifling species of composition, or quasi-literary form of amusement, which may perhaps be best defined as a punning enigma propounded in a series of descriptions. A word is taken of two or more syllables, each forming a distinct word; each of these is described in verse or prose, as aptly and enigmatically as possible; and the same process is applied to the whole word. The neater and briefer the descriptive parts of the problem, the better the charade will be. In selecting words for charades, special attention should be paid to the absolute quality of the syllables composing them, inaccuracy in trifles of this sort depriving them of what little claim to merit they may possess. The brilliant rhythmic trifles of W. Mackworth Praed are well known. Of representative prose charades, the following specimens are perhaps as good as could be selected:—“My first, with the most rooted antipathy to a Frenchman, prides himself, whenever they meet, upon sticking close to his jacket; my second has many virtues, nor is its least that it gives its name to my first; my whole may I never catch!” “My first is company; my second shuns company; my third collects company; and my whole amuses company.” The solutions are Tar-tar and Co-nun-drum."
- 2 making a false outward show wordnet
- 3 A single round of the game charades, an acted form of the earlier riddles. uncommon
"...The most popular form of this amusement is the acted charade, in which the meaning of the different syllables is acted out on the stage, the audience being left to guess each syllable and thus, combining the meaning of all the syllables, the whole word. A brilliant example of the acted charade is described in Thackeray’s Vanity Fair."
- 4 a word acted out in an episode of the game of charades wordnet
- 5 A play resembling the game charades, particularly due to poor acting. obsolete
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 A deception or pretense, originally an absurdly obvious one but now in general use.
"This whole charade is absurd."
- 7 A form of wordplay where several words are placed together to form a new word or part thereof.
"Sometimes the tricks above may be used in combination: a homophone may come in two pieces like a charade (RAINBOW sounding like REIGN + BEAU) or a charade may be reversed (TACKLE having ELK + CAT backwards)."
Verb
- 1 To act out a charade (of); to gesture; to pretend.
"I'm not trying to say: let's try to get away from power rituals because power manifestation is a very important part of sex. It is when it takes the form of charading gay punishment, punishing one of our own in order to allow him a gay contact."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"His charade attracted negative attention."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "charade"?
Common synonyms include: absurdity, anagram, antimasque, audience success, ballet, bearing.
How do you use "charade" in a sentence?
His charade attracted negative attention.
How do you pronounce "charade"?
Pronounced /ʃəˈɹɑːd/.
Etymology
From French charade, charrade (“prattle, idle conversation; a kind of riddle”), probably from Occitan charrada (“conversation; chatter”), from charrar (“to chat; to chatter”) + -ada. As a round of the game, originally a clipping of acting charade but now usually understood and formed as a back-formation from charades.