Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense camouflages, present participle camouflaging, past tense, past participle camouflaged
1. uncountable noun [oft NOUN noun]
Camouflage consists of things such as leaves, branches, or brown and green paint, which are used to make it difficult for an enemy to see military forces and equipment.
They were dressed in camouflage and carried automatic rifles.
...a camouflage jacket.
...the mottled green camouflage scheme of most military vehicles.
2. verb [usually passive]
If military buildings or vehicles are camouflaged, things such as leaves, branches, or brown and green paint are used to make it difficultfor an enemy to see them.
You won't see them from the air. They'd be very well camouflaged. [beVERB-ed]
They walked through the trees to a second hut, cunningly camouflaged against airsurveillance. [VERB-ed]
3. verb
If you camouflage something such as a feeling or a situation, you hide it or make it appear to be something different.
He has never camouflaged his desire to better himself. [VERB noun]
I think that there has been an attempt to camouflage what really happened. [VERB noun]
Camouflage is also a noun.
The constant partygoing of her later years was a desperate camouflage for her grief. [+ for]
4. uncountable noun [oft aNOUN]
Camouflage is the way in which some animals are coloured and shaped so that they cannot easily be seen in their natural surroundings.
Their camouflage is enhanced by growths of algae on their fur.
More Synonyms of camouflage
camouflage in British English
(ˈkæməˌflɑːʒ)
noun
1.
the exploitation of natural surroundings or artificial aids to conceal or disguise the presence of military units, equipment, etc
2. (modifier)
(of fabric or clothing) having a design of irregular patches of dull colours (such as browns and greens), as used in military camouflage
3.
the means by which animals escape the notice of predators, usually because of a resemblance to their surroundings: includes cryptic and apatetic coloration
4.
a device or expedient designed to conceal or deceive
verb
5. (transitive)
to conceal by camouflage
Word origin
C20: from French, from camoufler, from Italian camuffare to disguise, deceive, of uncertain origin
camouflage in American English
(ˈkæməˌflɑʒ; ˈkæməˌflɑdʒ)
noun
1.
the disguising of troops, ships, guns, etc. to conceal them from the enemy, as by the use of paint, nets, or leaves in patterns merging with the background
2.
a disguise or concealment of this kind
3.
any device or action used to conceal or mislead; deception
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈcamouˌflaged or ˈcamouˌflaging
4.
to disguise (a thing or person) in order to conceal
Derived forms
camouflager (ˈcamouˌflager)
noun
Word origin
Fr < camoufler, to disguise; prob. altered (infl. by camouflet, puff of smoke) < It camuffare, to disguise
Examples of 'camouflage' in a sentence
camouflage
Opposition politicians have accused the government of seeking to camouflage a military intervention.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The grey and brown fur of the deer blends in with the trees with almost perfect camouflage.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Otherwise the dazzling visuals increasingly seem designed to camouflage a lack of thematic rigour.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We think they change colour just to camouflage themselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We also had the same camouflage jackets they wore.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They picked their way through buildings and obstacle courses painted in camouflage colours.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It has been suggested that as feeders in the grass they are better camouflaged with green plumage.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Banks are offering credit a military camouflage design.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Pink is said to be one of the best camouflage colours for the desert.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He was attacked by men who were wearing beards and long hair and had camouflage jackets.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
If they are there, they are well camouflaged.
The Sun (2013)
The stunning snap captures the bird's camouflage in its natural wintry habitat.
The Sun (2011)
What became clear after 1939 was that war offered the perfect camouflage for this annihilation.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Despite its size, the moth is well camouflaged against a tree.
The Sun (2010)
Just as trees themselves are the perfect natural camouflage, so wood is the perfect urban camouflage for buildings.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The broadcast said that the men were last seen wearing standard US military camouflage.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Inside the perimeter fence, camouflaged hides normally used for birdwatching have been installed to conceal the whereabouts of police snipers and bomb disposal teams.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But in general official attempts to hide or camouflage information are challenged in liberal Western societies where the role of investigative reporting has become firmly established.
Butt, Gerald A Rock and a Hard Place (1994)
Suddenly, some big cannons come rolling past, painted in camouflage colours.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
While this crab spider is generally white, it has the capacity to change its colour to yellow or green to camouflage itself against its background.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In Britain, teams of crooks and engineers design camouflaged electronic devices and fit them to cash machines.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
camouflage
British English: camouflage NOUN
Camouflage consists of things such as leaves, branches, or brown and green paint, which are used to make it difficult for an enemy to see military forces and equipment.
They were dressed in camouflage.
American English: camouflage
Brazilian Portuguese: camuflagem
Chinese: 迷彩军事
European Spanish: camuflaje
French: tenue de camouflage
German: Tarnung
Italian: mimetizzazione
Japanese: カムフラージュ
Korean: 위장
European Portuguese: camuflagem
Latin American Spanish: camuflaje
British English: camouflage VERB
If military buildings or vehicles are camouflaged, things such as leaves, branches, or brown and green paint are used to make it difficult for an enemy to see them.
You won't see them from the air. They'd be very well camouflaged.
American English: camouflage
Brazilian Portuguese: camuflar
Chinese: > 伪装军事
European Spanish: camuflar
French: camoufler
German: tarnen
Italian: mimetizzare
Japanese: 擬装する
Korean: 위장하다
European Portuguese: camuflar
Latin American Spanish: camuflar
Chinese translation of 'camouflage'
camouflage
(ˈkæməflɑːʒ)
n
(u) (Mil) 伪(偽)装(裝) (wěizhuāng)
(u/s) (Zool) 保护(護)色 (bǎohùsè)
vt
(Mil) 伪(偽)装(裝) (wěizhuāng)
1 (noun)
Definition
the use of natural surroundings or artificial aids to conceal or disguise something
Many animals employ camouflage to hide from predators.
Synonyms
protective colouring
mimicry
false appearance
deceptive markings
2 (noun)
Her merrymaking was only a camouflage to disguise her grief.
Synonyms
disguise
a ridiculous disguise
front (informal)
a front for crime syndicates
cover
The grocery store was just a cover for their betting shop.
screen
They put a screen in front of me.
blind
mask
His mask cracked, and she saw an angry and violent man.
cloak
Individualism is sometimes used as a cloak for self-interest.
guise
The workers are being dismissed under the guise of a reorganization.
masquerade
She claimed that the elections would be a masquerade.
subterfuge
concealment
The criminals vainly sought concealment from the searchlight.
(verb)
Definition
to conceal by camouflage
This is another clever attempt to camouflage reality.
Synonyms
disguise
She made no attempt to disguise her contempt.
cover
the black patch which covered his left eye
screen
The road is screened by a block of flats.
hide
The compound was hidden by trees and shrubs.
mask
A thick grey cloud masked the sun.
conceal
The device, concealed in a dustbin, was defused by police.
obscure
The building is almost completely obscured by a huge banner.
veil
Her hair swept across her face, as if to veil it.
cloak
He uses jargon to cloak his inefficiency.
obfuscate (formal)
They are deliberately obfuscating the issue.
Opposites
show
,
reveal
,
display
,
expose
,
bare
,
exhibit
,
unveil
,
uncover
,
unmask
Additional synonyms
in the sense of blind
Definition
a person, action, or thing that serves to deceive or conceal the truth
Synonyms
cover,
front (informal),
screen,
mask,
cloak,
façade,
camouflage,
masquerade,
feint,
smoke screen
in the sense of cloak
Definition
something that covers or conceals
Individualism is sometimes used as a cloak for self-interest.