noun
parasol
PA-ruh-sol
noun
1
A lightweight umbrella carried for shade rather than rain.
"She twirled her parasol as she strolled through the garden."
2
A large fixed umbrella used to shade an outdoor table or patio.
"They set up a parasol over the picnic table to keep off the midday sun."
How to Use Parasol
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn umbrella meant to block sunshine rather than rain.
Common mistake
A parasol is for sun; an umbrella is for rain — though the two look similar and are sometimes used interchangeably.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
parasoled past tense, parasolled past tense, parasols plural, parasols singular
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Etymology
From French parasol, from Italian parasole — para- ("to shield against") + sole ("sun"), literally "sun-shield."