/ dɪsˈgaɪz; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
disguise sb (as sb/sth) to change your appearance so that people cannot recognize you :
The hijackers were heavily disguised.
She disguised herself as a boy.
They got in disguised as security guards.
2.
to hide sth or change it, so that it cannot be recognized
SYN conceal :
She made no attempt to disguise her surprise.
It was a thinly disguised attack on the President.
She couldn't disguise the fact that she felt uncomfortable.
➡ note at hide
■ noun
1.
[ C , U ] a thing that you wear or use to change your appearance so that people do not recognize you :
She wore glasses and a wig as a disguise.
The star travelled in disguise (= wearing a disguise ) .
( figurative )
A vote for the Liberal Democrats is just a Labour vote in disguise .
2.
[ U ] the art of changing your appearance so that people do not recognize you :
He is a master of disguise.
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IDIOMS
see blessing
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (meaning change one's usual style of dress , with no implication of concealing one's identity): from Old French desguisier .