noun

chaperone

SHA-puh-rohn

noun

An adult who accompanies and supervises younger people at a social event, to make sure things stay appropriate.

"Her mother acted as chaperone on the school field trip."

"The prom had several teacher chaperones keeping an eye on things."

In biology, a protein that helps other molecules fold correctly without becoming part of the final structure itself.

"Heat-shock proteins act as chaperones, helping damaged proteins refold."

verb

To supervise and accompany someone, typically at an event.

"Two parents volunteered to chaperone the overnight trip."

How to Use Chaperone

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo supervise young people at a social event, or the person doing the supervising; also a helper protein in biology.

Common pairings

act as chaperone chaperone a dance molecular chaperone

chaperoned past tense, chaperones plural, chaperones singular

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Her mother acted as _____ on the school field trip.

The now-standard spelling of chaperon, from French chaperon ("hood").

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