Definition

1. Noun:

   • A large, elaborate party or celebration, often held outdoors: A festive social gathering, typically organized for a special occasion.
   • A public festival, fair, or carnival: An organized event, often with entertainment, stalls, and amusements, usually held for community enjoyment or to raise funds.

2. Verb:

   • To honor or entertain (someone) with a celebration or party: To celebrate a person with a festive gathering.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The annual summer fete is the highlight of the village calendar.
  • They organized a garden fete to raise money for the new school library.

• Verb:

  • The retiring mayor was feted by the entire town at a grand banquet.
  • The winning team was feted with a parade through the city.

Advanced Usage

• "to be the fete of the season": to be the most notable or talked-about party of a particular period.
  • Her extravagant birthday party was the fete of the season.

Variants and Related Words

• Fête (n/v): An alternative spelling, identical in meaning and usage, often considered more formal or traditional.
  • The church is holding its annual fête on Saturday.

Synonyms

• Noun: Festival, gala, carnival, fair, celebration, party.
• Verb: Celebrate, honor, entertain, toast, lionize.

Related Phrases

• Church fete: A common type of fete held by a church, often involving stalls, games, and homemade food.
  • We bought some jam at the church fete.

Related Idioms

• "To fete someone to excess": To celebrate or honor someone with an overly lavish or extravagant series of events.
  • After his success, the media feted him to excess, which he found overwhelming.

Noun

1. an organized series of acts and performances (usually in one place)
   • a drama festival
2. an elaborate party (often outdoors)

Verb

1. have a celebration
   • They were feting the patriarch of the family
   • After the exam, the students were celebrating