parasol

American  

[par-uh-sawl, -sol] / ˈpær əˌsɔl, -ˌsɒl /

noun

1. a lightweight umbrella used, especially by women, as a sunshade.

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parasol British  

/ ˈpærəˌsɒl /

noun

1. an umbrella used for protection against the sun; sunshade

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Other Word Forms

• parasoled
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of parasol

1610–20; < French, Middle French < Italian parasole. See para- ², Sol

Explanation

A parasol is a little umbrella that protects you from the sun. If you are trying to imitate a fancy Victorian lady, get yourself a parasol. An umbrella is a collapsible shade that people use to keep from getting wet in the rain or burned in the sun. A similar device is a parasol. Parasols are smaller than umbrellas, so they're not as useful in the rain. However, many people, especially on the beach, use parasols to keep the sun from beating down on them. If you don't want a sunburn, a parasol is handy.

Example Sentences

Jordan Smith, leader of the Kansas chapter of the LGBTQ+ rights group Parasol Patrol, said forced outing will create more anxiety for students and even push some back into the closet.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 8, 2024

That account was denied by a member of volunteer group Parasol Patrol, according to community news outlet Source of the Spring.

From Washington Times • Feb. 19, 2023

There are poems such as “A Parasol at Noon,” vaguely reminiscent of Wallace Stevens, which imagines “a land apart” that is “neither a plain of old nor yet a dream.”

From The New Yorker • Mar. 29, 2017

It's part of The Time That Remains, a survey show of the Belgian artist's work that began at Wiels gallery in Brussels and, rejigged, is now at London's Parasol Unit.

From The Guardian • Jun. 1, 2012

In Persia the Parasol is repeatedly found in the carved work of Persepolis, and Sir John Malcolm has an article on the subject in his "History of Persia."

From Umbrellas and Their History by Sangster, William