Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
A curtain, especially one used in some Hindu or Muslim traditions to conceal women from the gaze of people, particularly men and strangers.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, South-Asia, also, countable, figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A long veil or other attire covering most of the body, worn by women in some Muslim societies.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: burka
noun
The situation or system of secluding women from the gaze of people, particularly men and strangers, in some Muslim and Hindu traditions, by using a curtain or screen, and/or wearing a face veil or attire covering most of the body.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Keeping apart; isolation, seclusion; also, concealment, secrecy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, figuratively, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The period between the announcement of an election or referendum and its conclusion, during which civil servants refrain from making policy announcements or taking actions that could be seen as advantageous to certain candidates in the election.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, broadly, countable
Topics: government, politics
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A striped cotton cloth which is used to make curtains.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, obsolete, rare, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a screen used in India to separate women from men or strangers
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: screen
noun
the traditional Hindu or Muslim system of keeping women secluded
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: sex segregation
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: segregation, separatism
noun
a state of social isolation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: solitude
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: isolation
History
Borrowed from Hindustani پردہ / पर्दा (pardā), and its etymon Classical Persian پرده (pardah, “curtain; screen; (archaic) veil”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pleh2- (“flat”). Doublet of patka.
Across languages
21 source translations are retained for this English entry.
