masquerade ball
4
4.8
- noun
- /ˌmæskəˈreɪd bɔl/
- Formal
:
baile de máscaras
- Tonight, there will be a grand masquerade ball where all the guests will wear elaborate costumes and masks.
- masquerade ball held
Examples
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I'm ready for this masquerade ball.
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I'm off to a masquerade ball.
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The King is having a ball, a masquerade ball.
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What is this, a masquerade ball?
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Did you and Danny forget about the masquerade ball today?
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- I only came by to remind you about the masquerade ball tonight.
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At the Governor's masquerade ball last winter you met a certain young woman.
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Tonight there's a masquerade ball at the Vanderhuesens.
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They had this swanky masquerade ball in a manor house.
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This year's most sought-after invitation must surely be that of the Bridgerton masquerade ball to be held Monday next.
Fiction book (2001)
Synonyms
253
2.6
A large formal dance where people wear elegant clothes
41
6.4
A party where people wear costumes and face coverings, often with dancing
14
6.8
A party where people wear masks and fancy costumes
2
4.3
A formal party where people wear masks and fancy costumes
1
4.3
A party where people wear masks and costumes to hide who they are
1
7.0
A formal party where people wear costumes and masks and dance
How Formal
Surface Forms
Morphology
Both constituents directly contribute to the meaning: 'masquerade' denotes a masked social dance and 'ball' denotes a formal dance, so their combination clearly signals a formal masked dance. This is a straightforward, compositional noun+noun combination following common cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the full meaning.
Etymology
Masquerade ball comes from old parties where people wore masks and costumes so their faces were hidden. That's why a masquerade ball means a formal dance where guests wear costumes and 'hide' who they really are.