Definition

1. Noun:

   • The act of concealing identity: The action of hiding or changing the appearance of someone or something to prevent recognition.
   • A costume or attire used for concealment: Clothing, makeup, or other items worn to hide one's true identity.
   • A false appearance: An outward manner or aspect that hides the true nature or feelings of a person or thing.

2. Verb:

   • To change appearance to conceal identity: To alter the look of someone or something so they are not recognized.
   • To conceal the true nature of something: To hide or misrepresent the real character, feeling, or intention behind a false appearance.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The spy's disguise was so good that even his own mother wouldn't have recognized him.
  • He wore a clever disguise of a beard and glasses to avoid being spotted.
  • Her cheerful manner was merely a disguise for her deep sadness.

• Verb:

  • The soldiers disguised themselves as civilians to move through the city.
  • She tried to disguise her disappointment with a smile when she heard the news.
  • The software can disguise an email to make it look like it came from a trusted source.

Advanced Usage

• "A blessing in disguise": A situation that seems bad or unlucky at first but results in something good.

  • Losing that job was a blessing in disguise, as it led me to a much better career.

• "In disguise": Wearing a disguise; or, something that is not what it seems.

  • The celebrity traveled in disguise to avoid the paparazzi.
  • The simple-looking café was a gourmet restaurant in disguise.

Variants and Related Words

• Disguised (adj.): Wearing a disguise; hidden or concealed.

  • The prince traveled in a disguised carriage.

• Disguisement (n.): (Less common) The act or an instance of disguising.

Synonyms

• Noun: Camouflage, mask, cover, façade, pretense.
• Verb: Camouflage, mask, conceal, hide, cover up.

Related Phrases

• To be a master of disguise: To be exceptionally skilled at changing one's appearance to avoid recognition.

  • The fictional detective is a master of disguise.

• Thinly disguised: Barely concealed; very obvious.

  • The criticism in his article was only thinly disguised.

Idioms

• Disguise the fact that...: To hide or cover up a particular truth or situation.
  • He couldn't disguise the fact that he was nervous about the presentation.

Noun

1. the act of concealing the identity of something by modifying its appearance
   • he is a master of disguise
2. any attire that modifies the appearance in order to conceal the wearer's identity
3. an outward semblance that misrepresents the true nature of something
   • the theatrical notion of disguise is always associated with catastrophe in his stories

Verb

1. make unrecognizable
   • The herb masks the garlic taste
   • We disguised our faces before robbing the bank