<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>a party, dance, or other festive gathering of persons wearing masks and other disguises, and often elegant, historical, or fantastic costumes</li><li>a costume or disguise worn at such a gathering</li><li>false outward show; façade; pretense: a hypocrite's masquerade of virtue</li><li>activity, existence, etc., under false pretenses: a rich man's masquerade as a beggar</li></ul><p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li>(used without object) to go about under false pretenses or a false character; assume the character of; give oneself out to be: to masquerade as a former Russian count</li><li>to disguise oneself</li><li>to take part in a masquerade</li></ul>