Word
parasol
Phoneticspara·sol
UK/pˈæɹəsˌɒl/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a light umbrella you hold to protect yourself from the sun, not from the rain.
n. a lightweight umbrella designed to provide shade from the sun rather than protection from rain. Typically handheld and often decorative, distinct from the sturdier rain umbrella.
Examples
“She opens her parasol to block the sun.”
“Tourists share tables under large parasols at the beach café to escape the midday heat.”
“The old garden party survived in memory as white dresses and lace parasols turning slowly against a summer sky that seemed unwilling to darken.”
Examples
simple
“She opens her parasol to block the sun.”
contextual
“Tourists share tables under large parasols at the beach café to escape the midday heat.”
complex
“The old garden party survived in memory as white dresses and lace parasols turning slowly against a summer sky that seemed unwilling to darken.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “parasol” in context.
Verb
01. carry parasol
“Many visitors carry a parasol to protect their skin.”
verb + noun
02. close parasol
“He closed his parasol when the clouds covered the sun.”
verb + noun
03. fold parasol
“The waiter folded the parasol after the guests left.”
verb + noun
04. hire parasol
“You can hire a parasol and two sunbeds for the day.”
verb + noun
05. hold parasol
“She held a white parasol over her shoulder.”
verb + noun
06. open parasol
“She opened her parasol as soon as she stepped outside.”
verb + noun
Adjective
07. beach parasol
“We rented a beach parasol to shelter from the midday sun.”
adj + noun
08. colourful parasol
“Colourful parasols dotted the beach on the sunny morning.”
adj + noun
09. garden parasol
“They had lunch on the terrace under a large garden parasol.”
adj + noun
10. large parasol
“A large parasol shaded the table from the hot afternoon sun.”
adj + noun
11. a row of parasols
“A neat row of parasols shaded the hotel sunbeds.”
12. hire a beach parasol
“We hired a beach parasol near the lifeguard station.”
Real-World Examples
“The umbrella, along with its sunny counterpart, the parasol, has long been linked with flirtation and romantic moments, as seen in the woodblock prints by artists like Utamaro and Harunobu.” Etymology
From French parasol, from Italian parasole, from para- (“to shield”) + sole (“sun”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/parasol