camouflage

¹cam·ou·flage

noun \ˈka-mə-ˌfläzh, -ˌfläj\

Definition of CAMOUFLAGE

1

: the disguising especially of military equipment or installations with paint, nets, or foliage; also : the disguise so applied

2

a : concealment by means of disguise

b : behavior or artifice designed to deceive or hide

— cam·ou·flag·ic \ˌka-mə-ˈflä-zhik, -jik\ adjective

Examples of CAMOUFLAGE

1. The army tanks were painted green and brown for camouflage.
2. The rabbit's white fur acts as a camouflage in the snow.
3. Rabbits use their white fur as camouflage in the snow.
4. Her so-called charity work was a camouflage for her own self-interest.
5. His tough attitude served as camouflage.

Origin of CAMOUFLAGE

French, from camoufler to disguise

First Known Use: 1917

Related to CAMOUFLAGE

Synonyms

disguise, costume, guise

Related Words

domino, mask, veil, visor (also vizor), vizard; costumery, dress, getup, outfit, rig; coloring, cosmetic, makeup, paint

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

Rhymes with CAMOUFLAGE

Sanandaj

²camouflage

verb

camouflagedcamouflag·ing

Definition of CAMOUFLAGE

transitive verb

: to conceal or disguise by camouflage

intransitive verb

: to practice camouflage

— cam·ou·flage·able \ˈka-mə-ˌflä-zhə-bəl, -jə-bəl\ adjective

Examples of CAMOUFLAGE

1. It was impossible to camouflage the facts.
2. <camouflaged the military camp as a native village>

First Known Use of CAMOUFLAGE

1917

Related to CAMOUFLAGE

Synonyms

disguise, cloak, dress up, mask

Antonyms

unmask

Related Words

blanket, blot out, conceal, cover, curtain, enshroud, hide, obscure, occult, screen, shroud, veil; affect, assume, counterfeit, dissemble, dissimulate, feign, pose, pretend, sham, simulate; act, fake, impersonate, masquerade, play; cosmeticize, gild, gloss (over), varnish, whitewash

Near Antonyms

display, exhibit, expose, flaunt, parade, show, uncloak, unclothe, uncover, undrape, unveil; bare, betray, disclose, discover, divulge, expose, reveal

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

³camouflage

adjective

Definition of CAMOUFLAGE

: made in colors or patterns typical of camouflage <a camouflage jacket>

First Known Use of CAMOUFLAGE

1942

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

camouflage

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Art and practice of concealment and visual deception in war. Its goal is to prevent enemy observation of installations, personnel, equipment, and activities. Camouflage came into wide use in World War I in response to air warfare. Aerial reconnaissance (and later aerial bombardment) required concealment of troops and equipment. By World War II, long-range bombing threatened warring countries in their entirety, and almost everything of military significance was hidden to some degree, using mottled, dull-coloured paint patterns (green, gray, or brown), cloth garnishing, netting, and natural foliage. Dummies and decoys, including fake vehicles and airfields, tricked enemy planes into bombing harmless targets. It remained an important technique after World War II, used with notable success by communist guerrilla units in the Vietnam War.